Percival an Angel No More

The Angels bid farewell to closer Troy Percival on Tuesday, the second time in five days the team has decided to replace a World Series standout and free agent with a younger and cheaper replacement.

After the Angels informed him that Francisco Rodriguez would be their new closer, Percival rejected their offer to return as a setup man.

“We don’t want to hold Frankie back,” General Manager Bill Stoneman said. “He’s ready.”

Percival, 35, a four-time All-Star, earned $7.5 million last season. Although a setup role presumably would have included a pay cut, no contract terms were discussed because Percival was not interested in the job, agent Paul Cohen said.

“As much as I would love to finish my career with the Angels, I realize a club is best suited with only one closer,” Percival said in a statement.

Rodriguez, 22, who earned $375,000 last season as Percival’s apprentice, is expected to make between $400,000 and $500,000 next season. The top four relievers -- Rodriguez, Brendan Donnelly, Scot Shields and Kevin Gregg -- are expected to make a combined $2 million.

“It’s a pretty darn strong bullpen,” Stoneman said.

Donnelly said he was “disappointed” by the decision not to retain Percival, given his effectiveness during the Angels’ drive to the American League West title.

“We can be as good without him, absolutely, but the security might not be there right away,” Donnelly said. “If we had a lead after eight, we knew we were going to win. Frankie’s still a little bit unproven. He’s a great pitcher, but closing is a little different than coming into the eighth inning.

“When he’s fresh, he’s one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. When he got into trouble last year, he was a little bit tired. If he’s limited to one inning, he might be as effective as anybody.”

Rodriguez, an All-Star last season, posted a 1.82 earned-run average and struck out 123 in 84 innings. Percival, who sat out three weeks because of a strained right forearm, posted a 2.90 ERA with 33 saves. He struck out 33 in 50 innings.

Percival joined the 300-save club in July -- lending the game ball to Rodriguez so he could pose with it -- and ranks 12th on the all-time list with 316.

“I have the utmost respect for Francisco Rodriguez and what he has accomplished in such a short period of time,” Percival said. “I look forward to watching the progress of his career.”

Cohen said six teams have expressed interest in signing Percival as a closer. He declined to identify them, but they are believed to include the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.

Percival earned the save in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. On Friday, the Angels decided not to retain third baseman Troy Glaus, the MVP of that series, and handed the position to rookie Dallas McPherson.

The Angels are eligible to receive two top draft picks as compensation for losing Glaus and two for Percival, but they might have to gamble to get them. If the players remain unsigned Dec. 7, the Angels must offer them salary arbitration or forfeit the compensatory draft picks.

If the market is unsettled by then, Glaus or Percival could accept an arbitration offer, binding him to the Angels on a one-year contract. That might force Stoneman to forfeit the four draft picks rather than risk Glaus and Percival accepting offers that could cost the team close to $20 million in combined salary next season.

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In his first full season as a first baseman, Darin Erstad won a Gold Glove on Tuesday, selected by managers and coaches as the league’s top fielder at the position.

“When you’ve only done it one year in your whole life,” he said, “to work hard and get it feels good.”

Erstad, who receives a $100,000 bonus, becomes the first player to win a Gold Glove as an infielder and outfielder. He won as a left fielder in 2000 and as a center fielder in 2002.

“I’m running out of options,” he said jokingly, “since I’m left-handed. Playing catcher is not that easy. In right field, I don’t think my arm would hold up -- and we’re OK in right field.”

That’s the domain of Vladimir Guerrero, who won a Silver Slugger award on Tuesday, voted along with Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield as one of the top three hitters among AL outfielders. Guerrero, who hit .334 with 39 home runs, also receives a $100,000 bonus.

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As of last month, the Dodgers cannot trade Shawn Green without his permission. By completing his fifth season with his current team and 10th in the majors, he received automatic no-trade rights.

Although the Dodgers are believed to have received inquiries about Green, General Manager Paul DePodesta said Monday he was not soliciting offers.

“Shawn is very, very happy as a Dodger,” agent Greg Genske said. “His No. 1 choice would be to play for the Dodgers.”

Green will make $16 million next season, in the final year of his contract. The price for waiving his no-trade rights could be a contract extension from his new team.

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Boston Red Sox star Pedro Martinez filed for free agency a week after his Game 3 victory helped Boston win its first World Series title since 1918.

The Red Sox have exclusive negotiating rights with Martinez until Nov. 11, the day before other teams can discuss money with the three-time Cy Young Award winner.

Yankee right-hander Orlando Hernandez, Tampa Bay first baseman Tino Martinez and San Diego left-hander David Wells also were among the 11 players who filed.

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Seattle Mariner closer Eddie Guardado exercised his $4-million player option, one day after the team declined its $6-million option.... As expected, Jim Bowden was hired as general manager of the Washington-bound Montreal Expos.

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Arizona Manager Wally Backman will keep his new job despite revelations of two arrests and a bankruptcy filing in his past.

The Diamondbacks were unaware of his problems until they surfaced in a New York Times story on Tuesday. Backman met with Diamondback owners and other management personnel about the issues and was told he still had the job, he said.

Backman acknowledged that he was arrested in 2001 after an altercation with a female family friend at his home in Prineville, Ore. He said he agreed to plead guilty to fourth-degree assault and was put on 12 months’ probation. Backman was also arrested on a charge of driving under the influence in Kennewick, Wash., in 1999. He said he fought the charge for two years before pleading guilty.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.