Angels, Erick Aybar agree on one-year deal

The Angels avoided arbitration with shortstop Erick Aybar, who agreed to a one-year, $2.05-million contract Thursday, but they could not avoid it with catcher Jeff Mathis, who missed Thursday’s workout to attend his hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Mathis, an agile defender who hit .211 with five home runs and 28 runs batted in last season, asked for a salary of $1.3 million; the Angels countered with an offer of $700,000. A decision is expected Friday.

Aybar, who hit .312 with five homers and 58 RBIs last season and developed into one of baseball’s better defensive shortstops, asked for $2.75 million in arbitration, while the Angels countered with $1.8 million.

His deal includes incentives that will pay $50,000 with 575 plate appearances and $50,000 with 625 plate appearances.

Easy does it

Starter Scott Kazmir and new reliever Fernando Rodney were held out of pitchers fielding practice and some running drills Thursday because of minor injuries.

Kazmir, a left-hander acquired last July from Tampa Bay, reported to camp with a slight hamstring strain. Rodney, the former Detroit closer who signed a two-year, $11-million deal to be an Angels set-up man, has soreness in his shins.

Reliever Scot Shields, who missed most of 2009 because of left-knee surgery, also will be limited early in camp.

“Some guys are a little tentative . . . and we want them to work their way into things,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “There are no huge red flags, nothing that’s going to impact what we see as a terrific pitching staff.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com