ANGELS: GM WILL LISTEN TO ALL OFFERS.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

Well rested and ready to go after a little vacation time, Angels general manager Bill Stoneman will head into the winter meetings Monday prepared to listen.

After the signing of center Gary Matthews Jr., Stoneman said he doesn't actually expect to be in pursuit of an impact player at the annual gathering in Orlando, Fla.

That doesn't mean Stoneman has closed his mind to the possibility of a move happening. But it sounds like others will have to make the proposals.

``The outfield is pretty set, so we're looking at the corners of the infield,'' Stoneman said. ``If we do anything from this point forward it will be corner infielders. I wouldn't rule anything out. You never know when an opportunity will be uncovered. You might say, `I wasn't looking for this but it makes us better so lets do it.' That has happened before.''

There are plenty of rumors involving the Angels.

There is a report that the Angels might trade Chone Figgins and Ervin Santana to the Chicago White Sox for third baseman Joe Crede and pitcher Freddy Garcia.

That one is the ultimate of long shots. Two White Sox sources practically scoffed at the likelihood of this happening with one exasperated over the fact that anybody with a trade idea and an outlet to present it can cause a stir.

There also is a chance Stoneman could revisit the Miguel Tejada proposal with the Baltimore Orioles. At last season's trade deadline, the Angels were ready to deal Santana and Erick Aybar for Tejada, but Orioles owner Peter Angelos nixed that swap. After finding out Tejada was not open to moving to third base the Angels might have backed out anyway.

And then there is the deal that would make the biggest noise of all: acquiring Alex Rodriguez from the New York Yankees. The problem with that swap, which also would probably have to include Santana, is that Rodriguez, the Yankees and Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, all say he isn't going anywhere.

So what is with Santana in all of the trade rumors?

Quite simply, his age (23), his affordability ($350,000 last season) and his early career success (28 wins in his first twoseasons) would yield the best return on a deal. But those are also the reasons he would be best kept right where he is.

``Right now most clubs are aggressive in a way different from us,'' Stoneman said. ``We're not aggressively pursuing starting or relief pitching now, while most clubs are. Our needs are for a bat.''

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