Jeff Weaver Might Go to Bullpen

The decision isn’t final, but the Angels appear to be leaning toward keeping rookie Jered Weaver in the rotation and moving his older brother, Jeff, to the bullpen when ace Bartolo Colon comes off the disabled list this weekend.

“He hasn’t done much to hurt his case,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of Jered Weaver, who is 4-0 with a 1.37 earned-run average after Tuesday’s win over the Royals.

“The way he’s executing pitches, he’s shown he knows what to bring to the mound. He’s not trying to elevate his game and do too much, and that certainly bodes well for a youngster in the big leagues.”

The Angels notified teams that Jeff Weaver is available, offering to pay a chunk of what’s left on his $8.325-million contract, but found little interest. The Angels have discussed a trade that would sent Ervin Santana to Tampa Bay for outfielder Carl Crawford but are extremely reluctant to part with one of their best young pitchers.

By keeping Jeff Weaver in the bullpen, where he has experience, going 1-1 with a 4.89 ERA in 15 relief appearances for the Yankees in 2002-2003, the Angels will have rotation insurance should Colon suffer a relapse of the shoulder injury that has sidelined him since April 16.

There is also a chance Jered Weaver could go back to triple-A Salt Lake.

“When you look at the whole picture and balance it out, we need to keep winning now and through the summer, and pitching depth is vital,” Scioscia said. “If you’re going to eject pitchers or move them around, where you negate their role, that’s not something you take lightly.”

Another indication Jered Weaver could stay in the rotation: He took early batting practice Wednesday with Jeff Weaver and Santana in preparation for National League games at San Francisco and Arizona next week.

“I’m not an oddsmaker,” pitching coach Bud Black said, “but Jered has shown he deserves to get major league starts in the future.”

In the near future?

“In the future,” Black said, with a coy smile. “In his career, he’ll get lots of major league starts.”

Scioscia said Kelvim Escobar will remain in the rotation. Though all five starters have pitched well, providing 17 quality starts in the last 21 games, John Lackey and Santana have been a little more effective than Jeff Weaver and are expected to remain in the rotation.

Asked how he’d feel if he was demoted to the bullpen, Jeff Weaver said, “I really don’t have a response. I have no control over it. I’m here to start. I know that’s where my best abilities are, and until that changes, that’s what I’m focusing on.”

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Scioscia said Colon, who threw an eight-minute bullpen session Wednesday, will start either Saturday or Sunday against San Diego or Monday night in San Francisco.... The Angels have signed fourth-round pick Clayton Fuller, an outfielder from Smithson Valley High in Bulverde, Texas, for about $200,000.