AL NOTEBOOK: ANGELS READY FOR OFFSEASON ADDITIONS.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA  Staff Writer

Not all is completely lost for the Angels this season, but the offseason looms ahead, which means the free-agent shopping season will begin.

Assuming the Angels will open the checkbook this winter, a number of interesting candidates are available to fill needs.

While adding a pitcher (Barry Zito) is attractive and shoring up the defense is tempting (Torii Hunter if the Twins decline a $12 million option), there still remains the need for an impact bat.

The general manager has targeted a standout offensive player as the major need, the manager has acknowledged it, the players would welcome it and fans have become exasperated waiting for it to happen.

At the trade deadline, Angels general manager Bill Stoneman took a shot at landing the Washington Nationals' Alfonso Soriano but the price was too high. He was then willing to pay that high price for Baltimore's Miguel Tejada, but the Orioles' owner got cold feet.

Stoneman actually encountered a party more hesitant about trading than he is.

The theory with most general managers goes something like this: If the asking price is uncomfortable for a player that will become a free agent at the end of that season, then it is much more prudent to wait a half a season to sign him to your own deal and not lose any players in the exchange.

Soriano was a target at the trading deadline, and he is among the list of candidates the Angels could acquire this offseason. Candidates can be broken down to realistic, possible and improbable.

Realistic: Soriano, Nationals; Jermaine Dye, Chicago White Sox (team option); Carlos Lee, Texas Rangers; Jim Edmonds, St.Louis Cardinals (team option).

Possible: Shea Hillenbrand, San Francisco Giants; Hunter, Twins; Gary MatthewsJr., Rangers; Dmitri Young, Detroit Tigers.

Improbable: Barry Bonds, Giants; Nomar Garciaparrra, Dodgers; Mike Piazza, San Diego Padres (mutual options); Gary Sheffield, New York Yankees (team option); Frank Thomas, Oakland Athletics.

Hunter is the interesting option of the bunch. He has delivered as many as 29 home runs in 2002 and 102 RBIs in 2003, and is on pace for 25 homers and 80 RBIs this season. He likely will command as much as Soriano and Lee, though, because of his ability to play Gold Glove defense in center field.

Center field, by the way, will be one of the Angels' targeted areas this offseason. The question is, are the Angels willing to pay about $55 million over five years to an outfielder who will be 36 years old when the contract expires?

Veteran finishing strong: Esteban Loaiza was a bust for the A's in April with an ERA over 8.00, but the veteran is now leading them down the stretch. Loaiza is 3-0 this month with a 2.00 ERA and just threw a three-hit shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Apple of their eye: The Mariners can't beat their ALWest rivals, but the Yankees are no problem. After losing 11 consecutive games on a road trip, the Mariners returned home to take two of three from the Yankees.

Jarrod Washburn spoiled Randy Johnson's return to Seattle by striking out nine in a win over the Yankees on Thursday.

[e-mail]

[phone], Ext. 2731

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

LOAIZA