Angels morning spring report: Concerns about another starting pitcher; GM meets with Matthews ... again
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TEMPE, Ariz. -- Busy morning in Angels camp today, with some concerns arising over one of the team’s few remaining healthy starting pitchers and General Manager Tony Reagins holding another meeting with disgruntled outfielder Gary Matthews Jr.
Manager Mike Scioscia said he was ‘disappointed’ with the reports from Joe Saunders’ minor league start on Monday, a game in which the team’s probable opening-day starter allowed five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings and threw 93 pitches. The left-hander was originally scheduled to pitch Sunday but was pushed back a day because of food poisoning.
‘He got his work in, and his stuff picked up as the game went on, but he could be experiencing a little spring-training [dead] arm,’ Scioscia said. ‘He wasn’t as crisp. Some of it could have been that he was weak from the food poisoning.’
Scioscia said Saunders will throw a ‘power pen’ later this week, an extended bullpen session that will put Saunders in position to start next Monday night’s season opener against Oakland.
The rest of the rotation is also shaping up, based on this week’s pitching assignments; it appears Saunders will be followed by Dustin Moseley, Shane Loux, Jered Weaver and Nick Adenhart.
As for Matthews, who is not happy with his role as a fifth outfielder and would welcome a trade, Reagins said today’s meeting was just a follow-up to the one he and Scioscia had with Matthews on Sunday. The Angels have reportedly held trade talks with the Cincinnati Reds, which went nowhere, and it does not appear any deal is imminent.
‘Both sides will maintain professionalism,’ Reagins said. ‘Gary wants to play every day -- that’s clear -- and we’re very clear about our position. His status hasn’t changed.’
The three years and $33 million left on Matthews’ contract, and the fact he is coming off knee surgery, will make the switch-hitter difficult to move. But not impossible.
‘A player of his caliber in the right situation, many teams would be interested,’ Reagins said. ‘But when you go through a process like this, you have to find fits for everyone involved.’
The Angels will probably have to eat a large chunk of the contract if they are to trade Matthews, and that does not appear to appetizing to Reagins.
‘We think Gary has value to our club,’ Reagins said.
The Angels lineup is filled with regulars for today’s exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., where Adenhart will oppose Cubs left-hander Sean Marshall. Matthews, Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, Bobby Abreu, Juan Rivera, Howie Kendrick, Chone Figgins and Jeff Mathis will all return to Southern California after the game and will miss Wednesday’s Cactus League finale against Texas.
The Angels play in Dodger Stadium on Thursday night, Petco Park on Friday night and in Anaheim against the Padres on Saturday night. Kelvim Escobar, who is well ahead of schedule in his recovery from shoulder surgery, is scheduled to start Friday night in San Diego.
-- Mike DiGiovanna