Erstad Surgery Today

With the Angels on the verge of losing both of their reserve outfielders, center fielder Darin Erstad is scheduled to undergo surgery today to repair an injury to his right hand. Erstad is expected to be ready for spring training.

Erstad complained of soreness in the hand during the final weekend of the World Series, “but it didn’t seem like a big issue,” General Manager Bill Stoneman said. When the soreness did not resolve itself with six weeks of rest, doctors ordered an examination Wednesday.

The examination revealed a fracture in the hook of the hamate bone, an injury not uncommon among hitters. The hook will be removed during surgery today.

Erstad said he believed he suffered the injury on a swing in San Francisco during the World Series.

“By the second day, I could barely grab the bat,” he said.

He received treatment and remained in the lineup as the Angels won the Series, and he and the medical staff hoped the soreness would disappear with rest.

When it did not -- “I tried to golf a few times. I couldn’t even swing a club,” he said -- he got an X-ray and a CT scan that revealed the fracture.

Erstad said he was told he would be 100% in six weeks.

Stoneman said it is “not likely” the Angels will offer salary arbitration to reserve outfielders Orlando Palmeiro and Alex Ochoa by Saturday’s deadline, thus losing negotiating rights to both players. The Angels are interested in the players but not in risking a potential arbitration hearing that could result in a raise for Palmeiro, who made $1 million last season, or Ochoa, who made $2.75 million.

Stoneman said he has had “limited conversations” with the agent for Ochoa and more extensive discussions with the agents for Palmeiro as well as other veteran free-agent outfielders. He also said he believes minor league outfielders Robb Quinlan and Nathan Haynes could compete for backup outfield spots, although Quinlan probably would be limited to left field and Haynes would appear to need another year of offensive seasoning at triple-A Salt Lake.