Detroit’s Fick Eyes Anaheim

DETROIT — The Angels did not trade for Robert Fick this summer, but he would be thrilled if they did this winter.

Fick, the Detroit Tigers’ only All-Star this season, could provide an appealing alternative to Brad Fullmer at designated hitter next season. The Angels inquired about Fick last month, before they acquired outfielder Alex Ochoa. But the Tigers would not have traded him for the price the Angels paid for Ochoa--backup catcher Jorge Fabregas and two non-prospect minor leaguers.

Fick grew up in Thousand Oaks, played at Cal State Northridge--with Angel second baseman Adam Kennedy--and lives in Manhattan Beach. Fick knew the Angels were interested in him, and the interest was mutual.

“It would have been sweet,” he said. It would have been like a dream come true, to get to go play at home and especially to play with Adam again. You always want to be around guys who you know can play the game and all that matters to them is winning.

“You look at that Angel team, and they don’t have the biggest names, but they know how to win. It’s awesome. It seems like it’s a different guy every night. That’s how you win.”

Fick, 28, is eligible for salary arbitration, but even at double his current $1.15-million salary he would be more affordable than Fullmer, 27, also eligible for arbitration and making $3.75 million this season. Both bat left-handed, but Fick has proven he can hit left-handers. He is hitting .276 against them this season. Fullmer, albeit in limited chances, is hitting .192 against lefties.

The last-place Tigers desperately need prospects, particularly pitchers. The Angels could provide one in triple-A right-hander Chris Bootcheck, a former first-round draft choice whose father pitched in the Tigers’ minor league system.

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Pitching coach Bud Black said the Angels have no plans for Ramon Ortiz to skip a start so he can put in extra work fixing his flawed delivery. Ortiz, who did not survive the fifth inning of Sunday’s loss to the New York Yankees, has won once in his last eight starts, with a 5.40 earned-run average in that stretch.

Black said the flaw--the front shoulder flies open, enabling too many pitches to sail over the plate--is similar to one reliever Al Levine had earlier this season, when he was hampered by tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. But Black said Ortiz is not injured.

“He’s been a little streaky this year, but he’s bounced back,” Black said. “We look for him to bounce back again.”

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ON DECK

Opponent--Chicago White Sox, three games.

Site--Comiskey Park, Chicago.

Tonight--5 p.m. PDT

TV--Channel 9, tonight and Thursday.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Records--Angels 66-45, White Sox 53-60.

Record vs. White Sox--5-1.

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TONIGHT

ANGELS’ JARROD WASHBURN

(13-3, 3.14 ERA)

vs.

WHITE SOX’S DANNY WRIGHT

(7-5, 5.48 ERA)

Update--Outfielder Garret Anderson missed his second consecutive start because of a strained right hamstring but is expected to play tonight. The Angels believe outfielder Julio Ramirez (strained calf) can complete a rehabilitation assignment this month and rejoin the team when rosters expand Sept. 1. They are uncertain, but hopeful, that reliever Dennis Cook (torn labrum and rotator cuff) can follow the same timetable.

Wednesday, 5 p.m. PDT--Kevin Appier (9-9, 4.22) vs. Gary Glover (4-5, 4.35).

Thursday, 5 p.m. PDT--Aaron Sele (8-7, 4.61) vs. TBA.

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Bill Shaikin