Anderson is at a crossroads

TEMPE, Ariz. -- It’s not as if Garret Anderson is staring into some deep, dark abyss.

Does he have any idea whether he will be employed a year from now? No. If he is, does he have any idea where he’ll work? No.

Then consider that by the end of 2008, Anderson, 35, will have earned nearly $76 million playing baseball, all for one organization, and it’s hard to drum up a lot of sympathy for the Angels left fielder.

But starting the final year of a contract at his age can still be a bit unsettling, not because you worry about putting food on the table or the kids through college, but because a player’s legacy is important, and whether you leave the game with grace and dignity or go out kicking and screaming really does matter.

“There was a time when it would have been hard to imagine Garret wearing another uniform, but the realization on this side of the fence, having gone through it myself, is that it’s inevitable sometimes,” said Tim Salmon, who retired in 2006 after a 14-year career with the Angels. “As much as Garret has been everything to the organization, he’s at that crossroads.”

So are the Angels.

Next fall, the team must decide whether to pick up Anderson’s $14-million option for 2009, buy it out for $3 million and part ways with the player, or bring back Anderson for one more year at a renegotiated, lower salary.

For roughly 3 1/2 of the last four years, while Anderson battled numerous injuries that sapped the production of an All-Star who averaged 30 home runs and 120 runs batted in from 2000 to 2003, the decision seemed to be a foregone conclusion.

The power void in the middle of the order was putting a strain on the offense, that four-year, $48-million contract Anderson signed in 2004 was beginning to feel like an albatross to the Angels, and the money the team could save by letting Anderson go after 2008 could be used for other needs.

The Angels took a huge step toward a future without Anderson by signing center fielder Torii Hunter to a five-year, $90-million contract in November, a move that pushed Gary Matthews Jr., Anderson’s heir apparent, to the corner outfield spots.

Then a funny thing happened on the way to Anderson’s retirement speech. A hip injury that sidelined Anderson for six weeks in the first half last season healed in early July.

The knee and foot injuries that nagged him in 2006 disappeared. His upper back, stricken with something called “undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis” in 2004, was not an issue.

And Anderson started raking, hitting .305 with 13 home runs and 65 RBIs in 67 games after the All-Star break before an eye infection in late September reduced him to a non-factor in the playoff loss to Boston.

Ten of those second-half RBIs came on a memorable, record-setting Aug. 21 evening against the New York Yankees, when he hit a two-run homer, run-scoring double, three-run homer and grand slam.

“It just confirmed what I still believe, that I can still play at a high level,” Anderson said of his second-half surge. “I never had any doubts about my ability, but you start wondering, is it time for my body to start declining?”

So, what do you do now if you’re the Angels?

If Anderson, who goes into his 14th big league season holding franchise records for games (1,868), hits (2,205), doubles (462), RBIs (1,208) and total bases (3,502), has a monster season, the Angels will have little choice but to pick up his option.

If he breaks down and spends huge chunks of the season on the disabled list, the Angels, no doubt, will let him go.

But what if he hits around .300 with 17 homers and 80 to 85 RBIs, as he has for the last three years, or puts together a few more hot streaks the way he did in 2007?

“We’ll look at his situation closely,” General Manager Tony Reagins said. “Health is important. I won’t get into the contract or any of that stuff, but our hope is he’s healthy, because when he’s healthy, he’s a productive player and a great addition to our club.”

With Cactus League play beginning Thursday, Anderson says he’s feeling great this spring, and Manager Mike Scioscia’s plan to rotate him and right fielder Vladimir Guerrero through the designated hitter spot, as much as the outfielders object to it, should help both stay stronger deeper into the season.

But no matter what happens on the field, Anderson begins 2008 knowing he could be wearing something other than an Angels uniform in 2009.

“I’m more of a realist -- I know it’s always a possibility,” Anderson said. “You never know what’s going to happen. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard guys say, ‘I can’t believe that happened.’ It’s like famous last words. I’m open-minded. The team knows my heart is here. They know where I want to be.”

If he is not here, don’t expect Anderson to torch the organization on his way out.

“From my side, I try to always maintain a professional relationship and leave it at that,” Anderson said. “I try not to take anything too personal, not burn any bridges. That’s kind of my personality, in all walks of life.”

Anderson is trying to maintain that non-judgmental approach as he transitions into something of a new role -- left fielder and part-time designated hitter by design, not by virtue of injury.

Though he hasn’t embraced the idea, he seems to have accepted it. Now, if the Angels ask him to be a full-time designated hitter, that’s another matter.

“I’ve asked a few players over the years, how do you know when you’re ready to be a DH or not,” Anderson said. “They say, ‘How are you running from first to second? Are you still getting balls that you got to a few years ago with regularity?’ That’s my rule of thumb. I still catch the balls I caught three, four, five years ago, I still run the bases well. So, I don’t think I’m at that point yet.

“And you know what? I’ll be the first to admit it when I get to that point. I have expectations of myself, and I don’t want to be out there if I’m embarrassing myself.”

If 2008 turns out to be a farewell tour, Anderson will look back on his distinguished career with few regrets.

He has played for three owners (Gene Autry, the Disney Co., Arte Moreno), three managers (Marcel Lachemann, Terry Collins, Mike Scioscia) and teams with three geographical designations (California, Anaheim, Los Angeles).

He has worn uniforms with three different logos and three different primary colors -- navy blue, periwinkle blue and red.

He has shared dugouts with players ranging from Chili Davis to Mo Vaughn to Guerrero, and on teams that won the World Series or have been buried in last place for months, with no hope.

Anderson has experienced just about everything there is to experience in this game, the highs and lows, and he’s done it without having to leave the comforts of the organization that drafted him 18 years ago.

“It’s been fun,” Anderson said. “I’ve gotten to see both sides, winning and losing, in one organization, which is a rarity nowadays. Guys used to have to go somewhere else to win, or they’d win and go somewhere else and lose.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

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Staying power

A look at Garret Anderson’s statistics with the Angels:

*--* YEAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG ’94 5 13 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 2 385 95 106 374 50 120 19 1 16 69 19 65 321 96 150 607 79 173 33 2 12 72 27 84 285 97 154 624 76 189 36 3 8 92 30 70 303 98 156 622 62 183 41 7 15 79 29 80 294 99 157 620 88 188 36 2 21 80 34 81 303 00 159 647 92 185 40 3 35 117 24 87 286 01 161 672 83 194 39 2 28 123 27 100 289 02 158 638 93 195 56 3 29 123 30 80 306 03 159 638 80 201 49 4 29 116 31 83 315 04 112 442 57 133 20 1 14 75 29 75 301 05 142 575 68 163 34 1 17 96 23 84 283 06 141 543 63 152 28 2 17 85 38 95 280 07 108 417 67 124 31 1 16 80 27 54 297 Totals 1,868 7,432 958 2,205 462 32 257 1,208 368 1,040 297 *--*