BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Edmonds Put on 15-Day Disabled List

Center fielder Jim Edmonds and his temperamental groin, which kept Angel coaches guessing for a week, were placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.

Edmonds suffered a strained abdomen and groin May 25, but an absence that was expected to last a few days grew into eight games, leaving the Angels little choice but to disable him, retroactive to May 26, and recall outfielder Orlando Palmeiro from triple-A Vancouver.

Edmonds, who is batting .307 with 13 home runs and 32 RBIs, returned to Anaheim Tuesday for an MRI, which confirmed he has a strain and not a tear.

How difficult was Edmonds’ injury to read? Last week, Edmonds, feeling he was sound enough to play, complained when he wasn’t in the lineup. When Edmonds was finally penciled in to start Monday night against the Twins, he pulled himself.

Palmeiro started in center Tuesday night after a whirlwind 24-hour period. He played all 16 innings of Vancouver’s 10-9 loss to Tacoma Monday night, a game that ended around 1 a.m. He took an hour and a half to pack, caught two hours of sleep--or rest--and was off to the airport for a 7 a.m. flight to Minneapolis.

“I didn’t really sleep,� said Palmeiro, who hit .315 with 31 RBIs in 52 games at Vancouver. “That was one flight I didn’t want to miss.�

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The Angels and shortstop Gary DiSarcina have reached a tentative agreement on a multiyear contract extension, believed to be in the four-year, $12-million range, but the deal has not yet been approved by the Walt Disney Co.

Have contract negotiations, which began in spring training, weighed heavily on DiSarcina’s mind? “What do you think?� said DiSarcina, who is batting .215.

“I don’t think the season is a good time for contracts. You feel like every at-bat is life or death. As much as you try to put it out of your mind, it’s always there.�

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The Angels are believed to be interested in left-handed pitcher Greg Swindell, who was released Monday by the Houston Astros and will be available for the major league-minimum $109,000 when he clears waivers Thursday.

Swindell, whose $4.45 million salary will be paid by the Astros, slipped to 0-3 with a 7.83 earned-run average this season after going 102-94 with a career 3.62 ERA in 10 previous big league seasons.

Though Swindell has been plagued by a groin injury and has not been effective, competition for his services probably will be substantial, because he will be a virtual no-risk investment for a team that signs him.

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Chili Davis, who missed two games because of a strained left hamstring, felt well enough to pinch hit in the ninth inning Tuesday. He struck out. . . . Catcher Jorge Fabregas has a bruised finger on his catching hand and might not be available tonight. . . . Reliever Mark Eichhorn’s shoulder is sore, so the Angels brought pitcher Ryan Hancock, 2-4 with a 3.98 ERA at Vancouver, to Minneapolis Tuesday as a precautionary measure. . . . Austin Peay shortstop Chuck Abbott, the Angels’ first pick (second round, 53rd overall) in Tuesday’s draft, is the third player named Abbott the Angels have selected with their first pick, following pitchers Jim Abbott (1988) and Kyle Abbott (1989). . . . Damion Easley, who homered Monday night, was the sixth Angel reserve to homer for his first hit of the season, following Don Slaught, Rex Hudler, Mike Aldrete, Jack Howell and Tim Wallach.