Is There Any Room for Edmonds?

With Mo Vaughn in the fold and first baseman Darin Erstad headed back to the outfield, the long-rumored trade of center fielder Jim Edmonds would seem to be one step closer to reality.

The Angels have four outfielders--Edmonds, Erstad, Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson--for three positions. Salmon and Erstad are untouchable, and Edmonds would bring the most in a deal, so he has always been at the center of trade speculation for the pitching-poor Angels.

But Edmonds is still in Anaheim . . . and he might remain there.

“Sure, we could keep four outfielders,” General Manager Bill Bavasi said. “We could rotate them through the designated hitter spot. It gives us flexibility to deal or to be good. I can think of worse problems to have.”

The future of Edmonds and Anderson could hinge on Randy Johnson. If the Angels sign the free-agent pitcher, they would not have to trade Edmonds for a No. 1-caliber starter and would be more inclined to deal Anderson for a starter who would add depth to their rotation.

If the Angels lose out on Johnson, they might have to shop Edmonds for an ace who could boost a rotation that now features the aging Chuck Finley, Ken Hill, who sat out much of 1998 because of elbow surgery, journeyman Omar Olivares and knuckleballer Steve Sparks.

“I know there’s a lot of speculation that Jim is gone, but until that happens, I have to assume he’s our center fielder,” Manager Terry Collins said. “No one with his ability is just going to be given away.”

The hottest rumor this winter had the Yankees, in anticipation of losing Bernie Williams, trading pitcher Andy Pettitte to the Angels for Edmonds, but those rumors ended when Williams re-signed with New York on Wednesday.

“My understanding is that the Angels are focusing on keeping him,” said Paul Cohen, Edmonds’ agent. “I believe they’d only consider trading him if guys like Roger Clemens and John Smoltz became available.”

As much as the Angels love the thought of Vaughn in the middle of their lineup, they cringe at the through of losing their Gold Glove center fielder.

“I wouldn’t trade Jimmy,” Angel shortstop Gary DiSarcina said. “I know he took a lot of heat, but I gained a lot of respect for him last year. He played every day, he’s one of the few guys who was [hitting] in September. . . . He’s just as important to us as Tim.”

No one singled out Edmonds, but DiSarcina, Finley and Erstad lashed out at teammates in the final week of the 1998, when the Angels lost five times to rival Texas and it appeared some players didn’t take losing as hard as others.

“Jim smiles a lot and is outgoing--that’s his personality--but you can’t act like that when you’re on the verge of elimination,” DiSarcina said. “You can’t bounce into the clubhouse without a care in the world when your teammates are bloodied, ticked off, and not wanting to go home.

“I was aggravated and disgusted with how he acted sometimes, and he rubbed some people the wrong way, but he’s like a little brother, you just have to wait until he matures. I think we saw that when he played with two injured knees in 1997 and played [154] games last year.”

Edmonds, who will make $3.95 million in 1999 and $4.65 million in 2000, an option year, has a career .294 average, 116 home runs and 385 RBIs in five seasons. He’s one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, with a strong arm, great instincts and a penchant for making highlight-reel catches.

“Over the course of the season you realize he’s not that bad, and sometimes you take him for granted,” DiSarcina said. “He’s a very talented individual. I would not like to see him go.”