Angels Finally Find the Way to Sign Jose

The Angels may be nearing completion of their roster overhaul after signing free-agent outfielder Jose Guillen on Friday to a two-year, $6-million contract, though General Manager Bill Stoneman said he continued to pursue additional players.

“We’ve made some very key moves already and maybe got ahead of the curve a little bit, got ahead of other clubs,” Stoneman said during a news conference at Edison Field in which the Angels introduced Guillen as their new right fielder. “But we’re not necessarily finished yet. We’re still having conversations with other clubs.”

The Angels have committed $75.75 million to Guillen and pitchers Bartolo Colon and Kelvim Escobar, trying to upgrade a team that finished third last season in the American League West. With the payroll already expected to exceed $90 million, Stoneman could capitalize on the team’s surplus of starting pitching to fill its vacancy at first base through a trade instead of signing another free agent.

“With every one of these [news conferences to announce a free-agent signing] that we do, we have less room maybe for down the road,” Stoneman said. “We’re getting close to where we’re going to be from a salary standpoint.”

The signing capped a wild week. Guillen announced Tuesday that he had agreed to a contract, only to have his agent refute that account on Wednesday. Guillen, who has played for five major league teams in his seven-year career, wore a wide smile Friday afternoon as he talked about finding what he hopes will be a long-term home with the Angels.

“[Being with one team] is something I was looking forward to,” said Guillen, 27, who hit .311 with 31 home runs and 86 runs batted in last season with the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland Athletics. “I’m excited to be here and be a part of this team.”

Guillen’s contract will pay him $2.2 million next season and $3.5 million in 2005 and includes a $4-million team option for 2006 with a $300,000 buyout.

Stoneman said he was willing to offer a player labeled by some as a difficult clubhouse presence a multiyear deal after speaking with Guillen’s managers from last season, former Cincinnati manager Bob Boone and Oakland’s Ken Macha.

“The information I got said he was the guy to go with,” Stoneman said. “Bob Boone glowed about him.... Certainly, if I thought that was a problem here, we wouldn’t have done the deal.”

Manager Mike Scioscia said Guillen’s only issue has been that he wants to play every day, “and I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. Any time Jose comes to the ballpark, he expects to be in the lineup and wants to play.”

Guillen declined to comment on his reputation.

“That is something I don’t want to talk about anymore,” he said. “I just appreciate the Angels giving me an opportunity to come here. They’re going to see the type of player I am and the type of person I am.”

The addition of Guillen, who possesses one of the strongest arms in baseball, would appear to give the Angels one of the top defensive outfields in the American League if Darin Erstad returns to center field instead of completing a proposed move to first base.

Stoneman said the Angels would be “fine” if they opened the season with their current options at first base, Erstad and Shawn Wooten, but indicated that would likely entail putting Chone Figgins in center field and moving Erstad back to first base, a position he played earlier in his career.

“Erstad, I’m told, played Gold Glove-type first base,” Stoneman said. “That ain’t bad.”

Guillen’s presence will allow Tim Salmon to move into the designated hitter role, a switch the Angels are hoping can boost Salmon’s production.

The Angels are also expecting big things from Guillen, who had his best season after getting 485 at-bats, more than he had since 1998. Guillen hit .455 in the American League division series against Boston despite a broken left hand that he said has completely healed.

“He’s just entering the time of his career that we feel is going to be the most productive time,” said Stoneman, who acknowledged that the Angels had attempted to acquire Guillen in July 2002 after he was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Stoneman said Guillen is a better player now after getting a regular opportunity to start last season.

“The most important thing you can give to anybody is opportunity because once you get the opportunity, then it’s up to you to take advantage of it,” Stoneman said. “Jose did that.”