Stoneman’s Not Desperate

Sure, the Angels match up well this morning with the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics. But, with the Mariners and A’s pursuing trades before today’s 1 p.m. deadline, the Angels might not match up so well this afternoon.

The Angels remain interested in acquiring a relief pitcher and/or reserve outfielder, but General Manager Bill Stoneman insists the Angels will be just fine if he cannot make a deal today, even if Seattle’s Pat Gillick and Oakland’s Billy Beane can.

“I’m not too concerned,” Stoneman said. “I can’t control what another club does. You can’t operate with paranoia.”

Stoneman said that his trade options had “narrowed a bit” Tuesday but said there were “still some possibilities.” The A’s Tuesday acquired left-handed reliever Ricardo Rincon, a player in whom the Angels had some interest.

The Angels have restricted their chances to make a trade because of their refusal to surrender their top prospects and reluctance to acquire a high-salaried player. At this point, they’re looking for the best player available in a modest deal, not looking to fill a particular need.

“It’s obvious you’d like to add depth to the bullpen and add depth on the offensive side,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “As far as targeting one area, it depends what players you’re talking about.... You’d like to get depth in a couple of areas, but that might not be possible.”

The Angels pushed hard to acquire reliever Paul Shuey before he was traded to the Dodgers on Sunday, and a baseball source said the Angels recently discussed trading left-hander Scott Schoeneweis to a National League club for a veteran left-handed reliever. But an executive with another NL club, one willing to trade the veteran reliever and extra outfielder that the Angels say they want, said Tuesday he believed the Angels would stand pat.

The Angels have discussed promoting triple-A Salt Lake outfielder Robb Quinlan, who leads the Pacific Coast League with a .345 batting average and 89 runs batted in.

While the Angels’ recent bullpen excellence has not dissuaded Stoneman from searching for relief help, closer Troy Percival is confident in the abilities of his bullpen mates.

“I don’t know how much better we can get down there,” he said. “The guys have done the jobs they’re asked to do. I don’t think we have to strengthen that area.

“We might be able to pick up a quality bench player or something, but I’m pretty happy with the team we’ve got and the way we’re competing. It’s a credit to what Bill did in the off-season.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JOHN LACKEY

(2-1, 3.11 ERA)

vs.

RED SOX’S

TIM WAKEFIELD

(4-3, 3.50 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Update--The Angels benched third baseman Troy Glaus for a day, but he took batting practice under the tutelage of Scioscia and hitting coach Mickey Hatcher. Scioscia said that Glaus, with two extra-base hits this month and three hits and 11 strikeouts in his last 25 at-bats, would start tonight.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.