Angels high on Matthews’ list

The Angels have emerged as the favorites to land free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., whose career year with the Texas Rangers has put him in line for a four- or five-year deal that will probably net him at least $10 million a year.

Matthews, 32, had lunch Tuesday with Angels Manager Mike Scioscia and General Manager Bill Stoneman, emerging from a 1 1/2 -hour meeting feeling even better about a team he has targeted since the end of a 2006 season in which he hit .313 with 102 runs, 44 doubles, 19 home runs, 79 runs batted in and a .371 on-base percentage.

Reached by phone Tuesday night, Matthews said it “wouldn’t be a stretch” to say the Angels are the leading candidate to sign him.

“It’s fair to say we’re high on each other’s list,” said Matthews, a Granada Hills High graduate and the son of former major leaguer Gary Matthews. “The opportunity to be home and to play for a winning team would be very, very attractive to me.”

Matthews, whose highlight-reel catches made him a regular on ESPN’s “Web Gem” segments last season, wouldn’t provide the booming bat that the Angels, who failed to land free-agent sluggers Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez, were seeking to protect Vladimir Guerrero.

But he would be a defensive upgrade over Chone Figgins, he would provide considerably more power out of the leadoff spot, and he would enable the Angels to move Figgins back to third base and down in the order, or package Figgins in a trade for a power hitter.

Matthews, a switch-hitter, is also being pursued by the Chicago Cubs, White Sox, Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants.

The allure of playing close to home -- Matthews’ parents live in Southern California, and his 9-year-old son lives in Santa Monica -- and for a perennial playoff contender that draws more than 3 million fans a year is proving powerful.

“I’ve always had a tremendous amount of respect for the way the Angels played the game,” Matthews said. “Being a California guy, to see where the organization came from -- a few years ago they weren’t drawing well, and now they pack the house every night. The fans really get into it, and it’s great to be in that atmosphere.

“I’ve played against them a lot over the last three years, and teams in your division see your strengths and weaknesses. The fact they’re high on me, that they think I’m a good piece of what they want to do, is flattering. It’s seemingly a good fit for both sides.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com