ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SELE WARY OF BEING ANGELS' ODD MAN OUT.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. - Aaron Sele can't contain his excitement when talking about the upgrades to the Angels' rotation, calling the acquisitions of Bartolo Colon and Kelvim Escobar ``awesome'' and saying it will be ``fun to watch Colon every fifth day.''

It was only later in the conversation, after much prodding, that Sele acknowledged those acquisitions might force him out of a major-league rotation for the first time in his career, or cost him a roster spot altogether.

``Somewhere along the line,'' he said, ``something's got to shake out. You can't have six starters.''

Right now that's exactly what the Angels have, as the signings of free agents Escobar and Colon created a glut that can be relieved only by a trade, release, or demotion to the bullpen among Jarrod Washburn, Ramon Ortiz, John Lackey and Sele.

The Angels would be willing to give Sele away to an interested party, but any deal undoubtedly would have to include the team assuming a large portion of his $8.5 million salary. Lackey is 25, cheap and talented. Washburn and Ortiz will attract ample trade interest, but the Angels want to win now and general manager Bill Stoneman said Saturday such decisions ``are made for one reason: to give us the best possible chance of winning.''

In applying that simple logic, there might not be much Sele can do this spring to indicate he gives the club a better chance to win than the other three, especially when he said his springs are ``usually horrible'' because the thin desert air flattens out his curveball.

After undergoing shoulder surgery in October 2002, Sele, 33, rejoined the rotation last May and went 7-11 with a career-worst 5.77 ERA. He failed to complete five innings in eight of his 24 starts, chalking much of his ineffectiveness up to post-surgery blues.

Now, he said he feels ``normal,'' but time is running out to provide a return on the three-year, $24 million contract he signed before the '02 season: He's 122-88 lifetime, but just 15-20 with the Angels. If he fails to crack the rotation, it might be easier for the Angels to release Sele than send him to the bullpen, where he's never worked in his 13-year professional career.

``I don't think it's fair to target Aaron and say he's the one,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``But I do think the reality is, we're going to go with five starters we can win with. If no one's traded, someone will be moved there.''

--Weighty issue: The Angels gave Colon a four-year, $51 million deal even though other teams reportedly were concerned with his weight. Scioscia said Colon reported to camp about 10 pounds above the 250-pound plateau, which is where he's expected to start the season. Colon said through an interpreter that he only wants to get down to a weight where he feels comfortable.

``He's a big man,'' Scioscia said. ``He's not going to go out with a body like Ramon Ortiz's and compete. It's more a player who knows his body than imposing a weight on him. That's why it's not an issue.''

--Stadium update: The Angels' efforts to construct a spring-training facility in nearby Goodyear received a boost when a pending Arizona state senate bill was amended to enable the state's Tourism and Sports Authority to contribute $20 million to the $40 million project, with owner Arte Moreno picking up the rest.

The bill would ban the TSA from contributing to stadiums for Cactus League teams moving within the state, but the provision makes an exception for the Goodyear deal.

--Also: Ortiz is expected in camp today and will begin workouts Monday after the birth of his third child Thursday. ... Scioscia said contrary to previous indications, reliever Derrick Turnbow is not out of minor-league options. ... Pitcher Steve Green has some stiffness in his hamstring.

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

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AARON SELE 

He might be forced out of a big-league rotation for the first time in his career.