Collins Focusing on Second First

Manager Terry Collins said the Angels would “exhaust all our options” in search of a second baseman to replace the injured Randy Velarde and the team’s front office is working to give Collins more of them.

The Angels have sent out several feelers, letting teams know they are interested in trading for a second baseman, but they don’t expect to land a front-line starter.

That is not their intent, because Velarde, who had elbow reconstruction surgery last year, could be ready some time in April, and the Angels don’t want to part with one of their own front-line players.

Among teams with surplus second basemen are Toronto, with Pat Kelly, Felipe Crespo and Tomas Perez; Colorado, with Jason Bates and Terry Shumpert; Florida, with Luis Castillo; Seattle, with Pat Listach, and the Chicago Cubs, with Jason Hardtke.

Another possibility is Yankee utility player Homer Bush, who was a top prospect in San Diego’s farm system before being sent to New York in the Hideki Irabu deal. Bush is out of options, and if he doesn’t make the team this spring, the Yankees probably will try to trade him.

As for the in-house second-base candidates, Justin Baughman started and played eight innings in Tuesday’s 9-8 victory over Seattle at the Peoria Sports Complex. Norberto Martin, Chip Hale, Steve Scarsone and Robert Eenhoorn will also get extensive playing time this month.

*

Damon Mashore boosted his bid for a reserve outfield spot by going five for six with three RBIs in the Angels’ 10-inning victory over the Mariners.. . . . Jason Dickson, who has been slowed by shoulder tendinitis, was not very impressive in his first Cactus League start Tuesday, giving up six runs and five hits in two innings, but five of the runs were unearned. . . . Catcher Angelo Encarnacion’s chances of making the team have been dimmed by an inflamed elbow. Results of an MRI were not available Tuesday, but Encarnacion is expected to be sidelined for at least a week.