Guerrero balks at DH role

TEMPE, Ariz. – No translation was necessary today for Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero, who began shaking his head firmly as the question – how does he feel about spending more time at designated hitter this season? – was asked in English.

“No, no,” Guerrero said, before switching to Spanish.

“I’m a right fielder,” he said through first-base coach Alfredo Griffin, who was translating. “I’ve got to wait until the season starts, see how my body responds, then we can decide what’s best for me.”

With Guerrero suffering a variety of injuries the past few years, including several that slowed him considerably in September and October, the Angels figured spending a significant amount of time at DH would be best for Guerrero, 32.

That’s one reason they signed center fielder Torii Hunter to a five-year, $90-million deal, so Gary Matthews Jr. could move to the corner spots and left fielder Garret Anderson, who has injury issues of his own, and Guerrero could rotate through the corner outfield and DH spots, keeping them fresher for September.

But Anderson has always expressed a disdain for the DH spot, and now Guerrero, a day before the team’s first full-squad, spring-training workout, is already balking at it.

With closer Francisco Rodriguez mired in a contract dispute with the team, is the Angels clubhouse filling up with unhappy campers?

“We’ll work through it – it’s not going to be a negative,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Those four bats have to be in the lineup, and [the DH spot] is going to be a tool to rest some guys. In talking to Vlad, it’s not going to be a six or seven days a week DH thing. He’s not ready for that and doesn’t feel he’ll be at his peak doing that.

“But there are definitely times, and there were times last year, when a DH day would have done him good. We’re going to have that option now. If he comes in and his legs are a little stiff, he’s still going to get his at-bats. Nobody’s talking about an every-day DH position with him.”

An inflamed right triceps reduced Guerrero to a full-time DH last September, and Guerrero said today that the elbow is “still a little sore,” which could limit him early in camp.

The good news: Guerrero’s knees, which still ache from all those years playing on the concrete-like, artificial surface in Montreal, “feel good right now.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com