Tavares Says He’s Happy About Old Teams’ Success

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico —  The Angels won the World Series. The Mighty Ducks are in the Stanley Cup finals. Tony Tavares, the man who once ran both teams, sits in a windowless office in the creaky old stadium here, without a championship ring on his finger.

From the time Disney took control of the Angels in 1996, to the time he resigned in January 2002, the oft-combative Tavares oversaw both teams, during an era in which few imagined a championship parade for either one. He respectfully declines to answer critics -- some from within those organizations -- who suggest it is not coincidental that the Angels and Ducks both reached the finals in the first full year following his departure.

“I was delighted the Angels won the World Series, and I hope the Ducks win the Stanley Cup,” said Tavares, who now runs the Montreal Expos.

“The former anything in sports doesn’t really get anything but blame. We all accept that. The credit rightfully belongs to the people who are there when success occurs. One of the adjustments I’ve made in my life -- and one of the things I did wrong in Anaheim -- was to be concerned with what people were writing. I just try to do the best job I can now and let other people think what they think.”

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When Kevin Appier and Aaron Sele returned last month, the Angels stashed Mickey Callaway in the bullpen, unwilling to risk losing him and unsure whether Appier and Sele would remain sound. Now, with Darin Erstad and Troy Percival ready to return, the Angels might expose Callaway to waivers.

Percival pitched a simulated game Wednesday and is expected to be activated Saturday. Erstad, on rehabilitation with triple-A Salt Lake, is expected to rejoin the Angels on Monday.

Infielder Chone Figgins is expected to be cut. Callaway could be expendable, as the Angels believe reliever Scot Shields can develop into a starter if necessary.

The Angels could sign free agent Chuck Finley. With the draft concluded, any team can sign Finley without owing his former club, the Cardinals, a first-round pick as compensation. However, the Angels appear unlikely to offer anything beyond a minor league contract with no guarantee of promotion, and one of Finley’s friends said he believes the pitcher might sit out the season.

General Manager Bill Stoneman said Wednesday he has not talked with Finley or his agent this week.

“I don’t think it’s going to be an issue,” Stoneman said. “We’re pretty well into the season. It might be something to put away for later, but not for right now.”

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The signing bonus of shortstop Brandon Wood, the Angels’ first-round draft pick, was confirmed Wednesday at $1.3 million.