Mike DiGiovanna

PHOENIX -- All those years the Angels pined for a power-hitting third baseman, and now they may have found one right under their noses. Mark Trumbo, making his eighth start of the spring at third, dived to his left to stop Rickie Weeks' fifth-inning shot and threw to second for an out, then lined a solo home run to right-center field off Francisco Rodriguez in the eighth to highlight the Angels' 6-3 split-squad victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

Few expect the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Trumbo to be the next Brooks Robinson -- or Troy Glaus, for that matter -- on defense, and he has already made three errors this spring. But the converted first baseman has also made enough progress that he could eclipse the Angels' projection of playing 30-40 games there this season.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- You can see it in the ease and comfort of his delivery, his explosive thrust toward the plate and the way the ball comes out of his hand. You can hear it in the loud pop of the catcher's mitt.

"He looks like a different guy this spring," manager Mike Scioscia said of Los Angeles Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen, whose once-promising career was derailed by injury and ineffectiveness. "He looks strong, healthy."

Albert Pujols can lead the Angels to a few World Series championships, win several most-valuable-player awards, set the all-time home run record and pass 3,000 hits, and he would not pay for himself.

It seems unlikely that any player, no matter how dominant and marketable, can generate close to $240 million in 10 years.

Dan Haren is a veteran of nine big league seasons, a three-time All-Star with a four-year, $45-million contract, so the image of the pitcher lugging dirty laundry to his in-laws' house like some home-for-the-weekend college student seems a little far-fetched.

But that's exactly what the 30-year-old Haren did several times during the final two months of the 2010 season, after his July 25 trade last summer from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Angels.

Haren, who is married with two young children, owns a home in Phoenix, and with the Angels trying to catch the Texas Rangers in the American League West, he knew he wouldn't have the time and energy to relocate his family to Orange County right away.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Scott Kazmir, who has spent the last month at the team's extended spring-training camp in search of a consistent delivery and release point, may rejoin the Angels within the next month, but it might not be as a starting pitcher.

Manager Mike Scioscia said the team could bring the left-hander back as a long reliever, even though Kazmir has made only one relief appearance in his 6 1/2 seasons in the major leagues.

"No doubt, we need starting pitching depth, and we're looking at him as a starter," Scioscia said. "But I wouldn't rule out anything."

Kazmir's future with the Angels could hinge on how 21-year-old right-hander Tyler Chatwood, who has gone 2-2 with a 4.50 earned-run average in eight games as the fifth starter, pitches over the next few weeks.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- It's not that Ervin Santana needs another pitch. He did just fine with a fastball, breaking ball and changeup last season, finishing 17-10 with a 3.92 earned-run average and 169 strikeouts in 33 starts.

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Chad Billingsley have avoided a salary arbitration hearing, agreeing Tuesday to a one-year, $6.275-million contract.