ANGELS NOTEBOOK: STONEMAN ACES OUT BORAS.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

CHICAGO - On the surface, Angels general manager Bill Stoneman pulled off the baseball equivalent of a no-limit poker player getting thrown an ace on the river. His ability to stay in the hand with mega-agent Scott Boras until the asking price on draftee Jered Weaver fell to $4 million might be looked at as an upset victory in an industry in which some clubs choose to avoid drafting Boras clients altogether.

A lesson in the Weaver saga, which ended Monday with the former Simi Valley High star and Long Beach State All-American agreeing to a contract minutes before the Angels would have lost his draft rights, is that Boras might be viewed as an unyielding force in negotiations, but the ultimate decision is made by clients.

``(Boras) does a good job keeping us informed, advising us, but the final say is the player's,'' said Angels starter Jarrod Washburn, a Boras client. ``Some might think it's all his. Some might allow that. Obviously, (Weaver) wants to be an Angel and didn't want to screw around anymore.''

Weaver, who has been on a recent workout regimen, was en route from New Jersey to California on Tuesday and should have his physical completed by the end of the week.

--K-Rod off the DL: Closer Francisco Rodriguez was activated from the disabled list after Tuesday's game, finishing a 17-day absence because of a strained right forearm. Rodriguez said he ``felt the ball jump out of my hand'' during a simulated game Monday and expects no limitations in his return.

Scioscia said Rodriguez will be ready to work back-to-back games but could be limited over several days until he appears healthy.

--Also: Right fielder Vladimir Guerrero has resumed playing catch, but Scioscia indicated he won't pick up a bat until Monday at the earliest. ... Infielder Maicer Izturis will leave today for a rehabilitation assignment at Salt Lake, where he'll probably begin playing games Monday. He could rejoin the Angels at the end of their current trip. ... Outfielder Curtis Pride underwent more X-rays Tuesday that confirmed the diagnosis of a sprained right wrist.