Lackey Sees No Moves as Confidence

Pitcher John Lackey was “a little surprised” the Angels didn’t make a deal before Monday’s trade deadline, but knowing General Manager Bill Stoneman’s track record -- he has yet to pull the trigger on a significant deadline deal -- he wasn’t shocked.

“You heard 7 million different things, you figured one of them might happen,” Lackey said. “But that’s the way it is around here.... I didn’t know if something major would happen, but I thought something would happen. I guess that shows the confidence he has in the guys in this room.”

The Angels came close to acquiring Baltimore Orioles slugger Miguel Tejada, offering pitcher Ervin Santana and triple-A shortstop Erick Aybar, but the deal fizzled when Tejada refused to move from shortstop to third and the Angels refused to add a third player -- the Orioles wanted either first baseman Casey Kotchman or double-A pitcher Jose Arredondo -- to the package.

The Angels pursued slugger Carlos Lee, but the Milwaukee Brewers declined their offer of Aybar and triple-A catcher Jeff Mathis and traded Lee to Texas. The Angels also pursued Washington slugger Alfonso Soriano.

As much as Lackey would have loved another impact bat, he was glad the Angels didn’t trade second baseman Adam Kennedy or trade a pitcher from a rotation that is without injured ace Bartolo Colon.

“I’m sure Bart’s health had a lot to do with it,” Lackey said. “We can’t lose too many starting pitchers until we find out exactly what is wrong with Bart.”

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After weeks of extensive medical tests and visits to foot specialists, Darin Erstad has finally found the cause of his inflamed right ankle joint, an injury that has sidelined the center fielder for all but five games since May 1.

A contrast MRI test, in which dye is injected into the ankle, and a CT scan Monday revealed a bone spur that caused a tear in a ligament inside the joint. Scar tissue covering the area made it difficult to detect the spur and tear on previous tests.

The diagnosis brought some relief for Erstad, who feared his condition was career-threatening. Doctors told him he could undergo surgery to shave down the bone spur, rehabilitate the ankle and be ready by next spring.

But Erstad, who will be a free agent this winter, hasn’t given up on 2006. He has immobilized the ankle in a walking boot for 10 days, giving his foot more time to heal, and plans to make one more comeback attempt, even if that means a bit role, such as a late-inning defensive replacement, in September.

“I would like to bring something to the party this year,” Erstad said. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

After sitting out most of 2006 and undergoing postseason surgery, Erstad may have to sign a minor league deal and prove he is healthy enough next spring to warrant a big league contract.

“That doesn’t matter to me,” Erstad said. “I’ll do what I have to do. But I’ll deal with that later. I just want to help out here as soon as possible.”

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To make roster room for pitcher Joe Saunders, who started Tuesday night against the A’s, the Angels optioned outfielder Reggie Willits to triple-A Salt Lake. The Angels will carry 12 pitchers for now and reevaluate their needs going into the weekend.