Stiff Lackey Plays It Safe

If it had been June, John Lackey said he would have pitched, but he wasn’t about to risk serious injury in an intrasquad game on the last day of February. So Lackey was scratched Tuesday because of stiffness in his right shoulder and will need several more days of treatment before he returns to the mound.

“The last time I threw [live batting practice Saturday] I was pretty sore the next day,” said Lackey, who had a breakthrough 2005 season, going 14-5 with a 3.44 earned-run average. “I got a pretty good [massage from a trainer], trying to rub it out, but it hasn’t quite gotten better.”

The Angels’ training staff conducted tests on Lackey’s shoulder, and Lackey said his strength was fine. Manager Mike Scioscia said the setback shouldn’t have an impact on Lackey’s preparations for the season.

“You always go through stretches when your arm doesn’t feel great, but I’m not really concerned,” Lackey said. “I don’t want to miss time, but it’s better to miss it now, before it matters.”

*

The Angels eased their logjam of middle-infield prospects, trading touted second baseman Alberto Callaspo to Arizona for reliever Jason Bulger, who split 2005 between triple-A Tucson and the Diamondbacks.

“We gave up a guy who is about major league-ready for a guy who spent time in the major leagues,” General Manager Bill Stoneman said. “With our middle-infield depth, we wanted to tack on some depth pitching-wise, and we like this guy’s arm.”

Bulger, a 27-year-old right-hander who will compete with Kevin Gregg and Esteban Yan for the final bullpen spot, was 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in nine appearances for Arizona last season. He features a 94-mph fastball and a slider.

Callaspo, 22, split 2005 between double-A Arkansas and triple-A Salt Lake, batting .304 with 11 homers and 80 runs batted in, but with shortstop Erick Aybar and second baseman Howie Kendrick slated to start at Salt Lake this season, Callaspo would have been moved to third.

*

Third baseman Dallas McPherson, who sat out two days of workouts because of a severe rash, was able to throw, stretch and hit soft toss, but he sat out the workout and intrasquad game.

McPherson said doctors ruled out an allergic reaction and believe his rash, which he said was “way worse than poison ivy,” was caused by dermatitis, a condition that causes intense itching and a red, raised rash.

McPherson said the itching was so severe he was unable to sleep for two nights. “It was everywhere,” he said. “And when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere.”

McPherson was given prescription cream and pills and was able to sleep with the aid of medication Monday night. He could return to practice today.

*

Bartolo Colon’s recovery from October’s shoulder tear continued to progress with a 10-minute bullpen session, his final tuneup before starting Thursday’s exhibition opener against Milwaukee. Colon is scheduled to start the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic opener against Venezuela next Tuesday in Orlando, Fla.

“We’re very comfortable that he’s where he needs to be to pitch competitively, in a short stint,” Scioscia said. “In talking with Manny Acta [the Dominican WBC manager], he’s talking about a 50-pitch limit for the first game, which is very conservative. That should be very reasonable for Bart.”

*

Veteran Tim Salmon, playing his first competitive game in a year and a half, had three singles in the intrasquad game, including one off 19-year-old right-hander Nick Adenhart, who was 6 when Salmon broke into the big leagues in 1993. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a game situation,” said Salmon, who sat out 2005 after undergoing shoulder and knee surgery, “but I’m encouraged.” ... Right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, mourning the deaths of three cousins who were killed in a car accident Sunday in the Dominican, missed his second day of workouts but is expected to return today.