Angels’ Jason Vargas, Sean Burnett making progress toward return

Left-handers Jason Vargas and Sean Burnett have extended their long-toss programs out to 140 feet, and both could resume throwing off a mound within a week to 10 days, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said Thursday.

Vargas, who underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his left armpit on June 26, was 6-4 with a 3.65 earned-run average when he went on the disabled list, and his return by early August would be a huge boost to a rotation that ranks 11^th in the American League with a 4.57 ERA.

Vargas, who will be a free agent this winter, would also have considerable trade value if the Angels, who are 11 games behind first-place Oakland in the AL West, fall far out of contention by the end of this month, but it appears his injury will prevent the Angels from trading him before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Burnett, out since May 28, has an 0.93 ERA but has been limited by elbow problems -- which only seem to flare up when he’s throwing off a mound -- to 13 games this season.

“He feels pretty good, but the real issue for Sean is once he gets off a mound and turns it loose,” Scioscia said. “That’s going to take a lot more work.”

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