ANGELS NOTEBOOK: TOP PROSPECTS READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. - As negotiations with first-round draft choice Jered Weaver drag on, the Angels take comfort knowing Weaver isn't the only potential ace under their control.

Weaver could be just a year or two from the big leagues, and the Angels think the same is true of Steve Shell and Ervin Santana. Both have been impressive early in camp.

Santana, a lanky right-hander from the Dominican Republic, has been the Angels' top pitching prospect the past two seasons. Shell, also a right- hander, posted a 190-40 strikeout-walk ratio last year at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.

They will pitch in 2005 at Double-A Arkansas.

``Shell has a chance to be real good,'' manager Mike Scioscia said Monday. ``He wants it. He has that look. He wants to achieve.''

Santana's fastball hit 97 mph last season, and Shell's topped out around 95. Although Santana was bothered by hamstring and quadriceps injuries at Arkansas, Shell dominated at Rancho Cucamonga, going 12-7 and allowing 151 hits in 165 innings.

Shell, 21, an El Reno, Okla., native, learned to pitch from instructional books authored by Nolan Ryan. He saw Ryan's last game as a Ranger in Arlington, Texas.

``You feel like you're out there, knocking on the door,'' Shell said of his chances to advance. ``You hit Triple-A, it can go quickly. But I'm just focusing on getting my job done.''

Santana, 22, was limited to eight starts last season, a step back from his 11-3 campaign in 2003 between Rancho Cucamonga and Arkansas. He was throwing 97 mph again in December, in the Dominican winter league, and could figure heavily in the Angels' 2006 plans with Jarrod Washburn and Paul Byrd eligible for free agency after this season.

``He recognizes this is a very, very important year for him,'' said player development director Tony Reagins. ``If healthy, he opens up some doors. Every report we have says this is the best he's felt.''

--Frankie signs: Francisco Rodriguez, the closer for perhaps the most cost-efficient bullpen in baseball, agreed Monday to a one-year, $440,000 contract in his final year of club control.

Rodriguez and Brendan Donnelly will be arbitration-eligible in 2006, but, for now, the former All-Stars are the cheap labor in a bullpen that features Scot Shields ($925,000) and Esteban Yan ($1.1 million). Donnelly figures to be offered around $425,000 today.

``And it's the best,'' Rodriguez said of his bullpen. ``One day, my agent and the team will talk. Of course, I would love to sign a three-year deal. But right now my goal is 40 saves, staying healthy. That's it.''

--Passport problems: As the Angels await the arrival of Cuban defector Kendry Morales, their biggest concern is that they do not know exactly when his lawyers in the Dominican Republic initiated the process of acquiring a passport.

--Anaheim appeals ruling: The city of Anaheim on Monday appealed a judge's ruling that would allow the Angels to continue using the team's new name, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It is not known when the 4th District Court of Appeal will review the case.

Associated Press contributed to this report

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

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Reigning AL MVP Vladimir Guerrero practices taking home runs away during an Angels practice session Monday.

Matt York/Associated Press