ANGELS UPDATE: STILL NO DEAL FOR EDMONDS.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

Angels general manager Bill Stoneman checked out of his hotel room at the Anaheim Marriott on Tuesday morning and returned to his office at Edison Field, having fallen short of his goal of trading one of his outfielders for starting pitching help.

However, Stoneman was quick to point out that there was no trading deadline at the just-concluded winter meetings. And he is close to finalizing a deal that would send center fielder Jim Edmonds to the Oakland A's for three minor-league prospects. The holdup, according to a source, is the third prospect.

The Angels have agreed to take pitcher Brett Laxton and outfielder Mario Encarnacion. They also want third baseman Adam Piatt, but the A's so far have been reluctant to part with him.

Piatt, who was named Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year this past season, hit .345 with 39 homers and 135 RBI at Double-A Midland before being promoted to Triple-A Vancouver.

Edmonds passed the day as he has all offseason - by working out. His agent, Paul Cohen, continues to monitor the situation and keep Edmonds posted.

``I've had a few conversations today and it's 90 to 99 percent done,'' Cohen said. ``But as time goes by, there's more of a risk (it won't happen). Because a lot of things can happen.''

Meanwhile, Stoneman continued to work on other possible trades.

``I have had conversations with other clubs, even including a new discussion that wasn't discussed at the meetings,'' he said. ``And fires continue to burn on the old discussions.''

Among the Angels' other needs is a second baseman, and they are in talks with free agent Mickey Morandini, who hit .241 with the Chicago Cubs last year.