ANGELS LOOK FORWARD MORENO GUARANTEES MAJOR ROSTER ADDITION FOR NEXT YEAR ANGELS 5, KANSAS CITY 2.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Help is on the way for the Angels next season. Owner Arte Moreno just guaranteed it.

Moreno is in Kansas City this week as the organization begins the process of formulating a roster plan for next season. Unlike last offseason, when the Angels were unable to sign Paul Konerko, Moreno said the team will not strike out again.

``Yeah, I guarantee that,'' Moreno said about an hour before Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Royals. ``That's a pretty easy guarantee because we're going to do it.''

Moreno declined to be more specific about what kind of offseason acquisitions the team will make or whether or not it will be through a trade or free agency. He could add the impact bat the Angels have been seeking for two years, or perhaps a starting pitcher such as Barry Zito could be added through the free-agent market.

Free agents that could make an impact on offense include Minnesota's Torii Hunter (team option), Texas' Gary Matthews Jr., Milwaukee's Carlos Lee, the Dodgers' Nomar Garciaparra and Washington's Alfonso Soriano. Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez has an out-clause in his contract and reportedly is set on using it. Even San Francisco's Barry Bonds is a free agent at the end of the season.

``(Adding a bat) is something that we've explored before, but now we know we have goals that we need to attain, whether they're accomplished through the free-agent market or through trade,'' Moreno said.

The guarantee would seem to put pressure on general manager Bill Stoneman to make the owner's wishes come true, but that isn't how he is looking at it.

``I think it's fine,'' Stoneman said. ``We've just really begun the process of sorting things out. It will take some time before we really nail down exactly what we want to do. It's great. He's very supportive. Whatever we decide, he's behind it.

``It's a somewhat thin market, but there are some players out there. It's just nice to know you are backed up.''

Moreno, who bought the team for $184 million in 2003, said the club is now running at a profit after years of losing money. Having already drawn 3 million fans has helped finances, as did a $500 million television deal signed at the start of the season.

As he has said in the past, Moreno will not be frugal.

``I say that every year,'' Moreno said. ``I still believe we're in the building process. I believe this is a business that I need to continue to invest in. I made a commitment when I came here a little over three years ago to have a long-term plan and this is the fourth year in a row that we're drawing 3 million-plus.

``People like the experience, but you know at the end of the day you want to win. The economics aren't going to be any kind of hurdle at all.''

The team opened this season with a payroll of just more than $103 million. Only the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox had devoted more money to player salaries at the start of the season.

A significant addition only figures to increase payroll next season. Payroll increased six percent from 2005 to this year.

``A lot of positives are happening,'' Moreno said. ``Obviously, the non- positive thing right now is we're not in first place and not going to have a third (straight) division championship. The positive things are we are developing (talent), we're economically sound, we're making a little bit of money and we've redone our whole minor-league complex (at Tempe, Ariz.).

``We are optimistic about what position we are in, moving forward. We are not in a situation where we have to fix everything. There are some things that are going to have to be fixed from outside the organization.''

The first round of staff meetings took place Tuesday and will continue today. All of the organization's major-league scouts are on hand, as well as minor-league and major-league coaches. A number of front-office personnel also are taking part.

Moreno said the theme of the meetings is to look forward and not get absorbed in what could have been with this season's team.

``What I do is draw a line,'' Moreno said. ``You can go look at the stock market and I can tell you what it did today. When you really want to show me something, tell me what the market is going to do tomorrow or who is going to be able to perform at what level.

``Really, what you're doing is you take the historical information and you try to get prepared for the future. Everybody knows what we could have done better, but that time has passed.''

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Angels starting pitcher Joe Saunders allowed just one run in seven innings against the Royals on Tuesday.

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

(2) Angels owner Arte Moreno is holding meetings to discuss acquisitions for the offseason.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Box:

ANGELS at KANSAS CITY

- Doug Padilla