Stoneman Stands Pat as Trade Deadline Nears

No matter what the standings say at the end of this week or at the end of this month, General Manager Bill Stoneman says the Angels will not be a seller before the July 31 trade deadline.

The Angels opened the final week before the All-Star break in last place in the American League West, seven games under .500 and five games out of first. They play all their games this week against either the Seattle Mariners or the Oakland Athletics, two of the three teams ahead of them. Neither the challenge of passing three teams nor the possibility of falling further behind would persuade him to trade veterans this month, Stoneman said.

“We’re planning on being in it, period,” he said.

Stoneman continues to search for a big bat, but he said no trade is close.

“A bat that could help us isn’t really available right now,” he said, “not for anything within reason.”

The Angels have no interest in moving Orlando Cabrera from shortstop, even for Miguel Tejada. They could have interest in acquiring Tejada if he would move to third base so he could play for a consistent contender, as Alex Rodriguez did for the New York Yankees.

Tejada, 30, participated in the playoffs in each of his last four seasons with the Oakland Athletics. After the 2003 season, he signed a six-year, $72-million free-agent contract with the Orioles, a team that last had a winning record in 1997.

But, with regard to a potential trade, an Angels official said Monday, “There is nothing doing with Baltimore and Tejada.” Orioles owner Peter Angelos told the Baltimore Sun last week, “The Orioles have no interest in trading Miguel Tejada.”

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Cabrera reached base in 59 consecutive games through Sunday, the longest such streak in the major leagues since 1960.

His on-base percentage during the streak is .376. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 71 players have a higher on-base percentage during that time, with a minimum of 100 at-bats.

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The Angels must release Jeff Weaver by Sunday if they cannot trade him by then. Stoneman said several clubs have expressed interest since the Angels designated him for assignment last Friday, although the Angels expect to pay most of the $4 million left on his contract.

“We’ll do the best deal we can,” Stoneman said. “I’m pretty confident we’ll be able to get a deal done.”

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Reliever Brendan Donnelly said he would see a chiropractor for the tightness in the muscle that stretches across his left shoulder and upper back. Manager Mike Scioscia described the injury as “a knot in his neck.”

“It hurts when he tries to drive toward the plate,” Scioscia said. “He doesn’t get into his normal rotation.”

Donnelly said he has pitched with the condition for 10 to 12 days, with three scoreless outings that preceded Saturday’s game, when he walked three and hit one batter in one-third of an inning. Donnelly and Scioscia said he could have pitched Monday if needed, and the Angels did not plan to put him on the disabled list.