MRI for Guerrero Looks Normal

An MRI test Tuesday showed “normal wear and tear” in the cartilage of Vladimir Guerrero’s injured left shoulder, but nothing that would require surgery or drastically extend the time required to rehabilitate from a partial dislocation.

The Angel right fielder and 2004 American League most valuable player injured the shoulder on an awkward dive into home plate Friday night in Dodger Stadium and went on the 15-day disabled list Saturday.

A return by June 5, the day Guerrero is eligible to come off the DL, might be a little ambitious; Guerrero is throwing, riding an exercise bike and doing range-of-motion exercises, but he won’t even pick up a bat until this weekend at the earliest.

“But nothing is pointing to this being a one- or two-month ordeal,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “When a player lands like he did and dislocates his shoulder like that, there are some things that could require extensive rehabilitation or surgery. This rules a lot of that stuff out.”

Guerrero, who sat out only four or five games after suffering a similar injury with the Montreal Expos in 2001, said through an interpreter that he “feels really good right now.... Whatever it was [on the MRI], the doctors didn’t explain to me. I’m going on how I feel, and I feel pretty good. There should be enough time for me to be 100% by the time I come back.”

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The combination of Ervin Santana’s emergence as a rotation option, the Angels’ need for an offensive boost and Jarrod Washburn’s impending free agency probably will make the Angel left-hander the focus of trade rumors this summer. In fact, there is already speculation the Angels will pursue Kansas City’s Mike Sweeney or Tampa Bay’s Aubrey Huff in a deal.

“History has shown that guys in the final year of their contract are more prone to be traded than others,” said Washburn, who will start against the White Sox tonight. “I’m sure the topic will come up. Let’s just say nothing in this game will surprise me.”

Such speculation would end if the Angels offered Washburn a contract extension, negotiations the pitcher and his agent, Scott Boras, would be very receptive to, but General Manager Bill Stoneman has made no such advances.

“Bill knows our feeling, and he’ll come to us if he wants to, but I’m not holding my breath,” Washburn said. “It’s hard not to think about that because I’m in the last year of a contract, but I’m just doing the best I can to concentrate on my job.”