There’s no end to A-Rod talk

The speculation already has started, even if the season has not: Alex Rodriguez to the Angels?

The circumstantial evidence appears compelling. The Angels still lack that big bat promised by owner Arte Moreno, after a winter in which their top target was a power-hitting third baseman. Rodriguez can opt out of his contract with the New York Yankees this fall, and he told a New York radio station last week he would not return unless fans and management made him feel “wanted here.”

“Any team needs that bat,” Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera said. “Even the Yankees need that bat.”

If the Angels get that bat, Cabrera could be the odd man out. The Angels have moved top prospect Brandon Wood from shortstop to third base this spring, so they could play Rodriguez at shortstop and Wood at third, or vice versa.

The acquisition of Rodriguez would doom the already slim chance that the Angels would sign an extension with Cabrera, whose contract expires in 2008. The Angels could have three shortstop prospects ready by then -- Wood, Erick Aybar and Sean Rodriguez.

Stay or go?

With a man on third base and fewer than two out, the Angels almost always use the “contact play,” in which the runner takes off as soon as a ground ball is hit. Chone Figgins, the Angels’ fastest regular, ran on contact twice in the last three games -- against a drawn-in infield -- and was thrown out at home plate both times.

With Manager Mike Scioscia preaching aggressiveness on the bases, the Angels keep detailed statistics about how often runners advance from first to third base and how often they score from second base. They do not, he said, keep detailed statistics on how often the contact play succeeds.

If the ground ball is hit directly at an infielder, the runner has almost no chance to score. But if the runner waits to see where the ball is hit, the runner might not score because he might have to hold. And if the runner senses he is going to be out and stops to get into a rundown, Scioscia said the batter can get to second base, so the Angels still would have a man in scoring position.

“If the ball is not right at the infielder, he’s going to score,” Scioscia said. “I’m very confident with the fact we’re pressuring the other club. We’ve got to roll the dice and get moving on contact.”

Around the horn

While most of the Angels enjoyed their only off day of the spring Monday, Kelvim Escobar had a very productive workday, giving up three runs -- one earned -- and four hits in five innings of a triple-A game against Oakland. Escobar, who threw so he could remain on course to start the second game of the season against Texas on April 3, struck out nine and walked one in a 79-pitch performance. ... Jered Weaver threw a 45-pitch simulated game, all fastballs and changeups, and reported no discomfort.

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Times staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this report.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com