ANGELS: ONE WEAVER OUT, THE OTHER IN.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- One way or another, the Angels are counting on a Weaver to get them to where they need to go.

Figuring out that they could no longer be without a starter who has won every major-league game which he has pitched, the Angels recalled Jered Weaver on Friday while brother Jeff Weaver was designated for assignment.

The Angels now have 10 days to trade Jeff Weaver, the former Simi Valley High star who pitched last year for the Dodgers. If no deal can be found they will release the right-hander who was 3-10 with a 6.29 ERA in 16 starts. The Angels are almost certain to have to pay the majority of what remains on his $8.325 million contract.

While rare in baseball, the brother-for-brother swap is not new to the Angels. It is believed to have happened two other times, with the most recent being by the Angels in May of 2001 when Jose Molina was recalled as Bengie Molina went on the disabled list.

The only other time it is believed to have happened was in 1997 when the Cincinnati Reds sent down Bret Boone and recalled brother Aaron Boone.

``I think it's going to make our staff better right now and in the future the way Jered's throwing the ball,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We weren't able to facilitate a trade for Jeff. Bartolo Colon has come out of his two starts fine (since coming off the disabled list) and hopefully he will continue to make progress.

``Really this is the only direction we could go to get Jered in our rotation and to hopefully get stronger now and in the future. I think the little depth we're sacrificing hopefully will be absorbed by throwing the ball better as a group.''

Jered Weaver's June 16 demotion raised some eyebrows, mainly because the right-hander was 4-0 in his first four big-league starts with a 1.37 ERA. He struck out 14batters in a game for Triple-A Salt Lake on June 23.

Colon was a key component to the Weaver situation. The Angels could have designated Jeff Weaver for assignment to make room for Colon but they wanted to make sure Colon was all the way back from a sore shoulder. So they kept Jeff Weaver, 29, who had shown improvement and sent Jered Weaver, 23, back to the minors.

After Jeff Weaver lasted just twoinnings in a start this week against Colorado, the Angels decided to make their move. It helped that Colon had consecutive pain-free starts.

``Although (Colon's) velocity isn't back to where it (was), we're convinced his health is good enough to go forward,'' general manager Bill Stoneman said. ``To me, that was the reason why (the move happened now).

``To part with a guy who really made a good effort here -- we have no quarrels with his effort and no quarrels with his dedication -- it just worked out that way.''

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Jered Weaver, left, and brother Jeff got to spend about three weeks together as Angels teammates.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images