Guerrero defers on Rodriguez talk

By Mike DiGiovanna

July 16, 2007 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

Despite heavy speculation that Alex Rodriguez will call Anaheim home next season, Angels owner Arte Moreno has balked at the $25-million-a-year price tag the Yankees slugger could command if he opts out of his contract this winter.

In April, Moreno said “there is a ceiling economically, and there are only X number of teams who can spend that and still put 25 players on the field,” and in early June he indicated that spending that much on Rodriguez would be an insult to Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero, the team’s highest-paid player at $14 million a year.

“We have arguably one of the best four or five players in baseball with Guerrero,” Moreno told ESPN, “and that would be a disrespect for the other teammates.”

Guerrero, however, gave no indication Sunday that he would be offended if the Angels brought in another superstar who was making twice as much as he is.

“I’ve never even thought about it,” Guerrero said through an interpreter. “I’m not worried about anybody else, and I don’t want to comment on players outside the organization, especially if it has to do with money.”

Moreno has not approached Guerrero for his input, “and I don’t feel like he needs to talk to me,” Guerrero said. “All I’m worried about right now is winning.”

Guerrero is aware of the recent stories speculating on Rodriguez’s future but said he hasn’t thought about what it would be like to have Rodriguez hitting behind him.

“The players I’m surrounded by now can do the job,” Guerrero said. “I respect Alex. He’s a tremendous talent. But beyond that, I don’t want to comment, because there are too many pieces that don’t fit. I like the way Arte runs the team. He’ll do the right thing.”

Guerrero, who is batting .326 with 14 home runs and 78 runs batted in, is in the fourth year of a five-year, $70-million deal.

The Angels hold a $15-million option for the 2009 season, and they are expected to begin negotiations with Guerrero on a contract extension this winter.

If the Angels sign Rodriguez, that could push Guerrero’s price so high the Angels might spend $50 million a year on two players, something Moreno is reluctant to do.

All Guerrero, who played his first seven seasons in Montreal, knows is that he would love to finish his career in Anaheim.

“This is my second team, and I hope there’s not a third team, because I like everything about being in this place,” Guerrero, 31, said.

“It is a business, and I’ll make a business decision, but hopefully it will be made easy.”

Was Gary Pettis, the Rangers’ first base coach, surprised that it took 20 years for his Angels career stolen base record to fall?

“In a way, yes, but then, no,” Pettis said after watching Chone Figgins break his record with the 187th stolen base of his career Sunday. “The game has changed. Guys hit for more power now, and some guys don’t value the stolen base as much as it should be valued. It’s a weapon, not just to get numbers, but to create offense.”

Jered Weaver lasted seven innings Sunday, giving up two unearned runs and four hits and striking out six, but got a no-decision. The Rangers scored their first two runs on Figgins’ throwing error from second base in the third inning and Reggie Willits’ bobble in right field in the fourth.... The Angels did not hit a home run Sunday, their ninth straight game without a homer.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

Stolen moments

With three stolen bases against Texas on Sunday, infielder Chone Figgins became the Angels’ career leader, surpassing the record of 186 by Gary Pettis, now the Rangers’ first base coach:

187: Chone Figgins

186: Gary Pettis

174: Luis Polonia

170: Darin Erstad

139: Sandy Alomar

126: Mickey Rivers

123: Adam Kennedy

Devon White

116: Chad Curtis

110: Jerry Remy

Of Note

* Pettis was caught stealing 47 times while playing for the Angels. Figgins has been nabbed 60 times.