Gary Matthews Jr.: Angels' not-too-thrilled fifth outfielder

Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. — Gary Matthews Jr. was told in a meeting with Manager Mike Scioscia and General Manager Tony Reagins this morning that he would enter the season as the Angels' fifth outfielder.

He did not take the news very well.

Matthews emerged from Scioscia's office, changed out of his uniform and into street clothes and left camp, the Angels having given the disgruntled outfielder permission to take the day off.

He was scheduled to travel with the team to Surprise, Ariz., for an exhibition game against the Texas Rangers.

"Just give me a day guys, OK?" Matthews said, when approached by reporters. "Thanks."

Asked if he was getting traded, Matthews said, "No."

Neither Scioscia nor Reagins would say whether Matthews, in the third year of a five-year, $50-million contract, had requested or demanded a trade in the meeting, which was initiated by the manager and GM.

But Matthews, who hit .242 with eight home runs and 46 runs batted in during an injury-plagued 2008 season -- in which he lost his job to Juan Rivera in late June -- is willing to waive his no-trade clause for a deal to a team that can guarantee him a starting job.

The problem is, Matthews is coming off knee surgery and needs to play regularly for an extended period for any team to seriously consider trading for him. And the $33 million left on Matthews' contract makes him almost impossible to move.

It was thought that Matthews' strong and early return from knee surgery -- he's batting .258 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 12 spring games and has looked very good running the bases -- might garner him a platoon role with Rivera.

But Scioscia and Reagins, who have met with Matthews several times this spring, told the outfielder today that Vladimir Guerrero, Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter and Rivera are ahead of him on the team's outfield-designated-hitter depth chart.

"As of today, he's going to be an extra outfielder," Reagins said. "We gave him an update on his status. We were very forthright, but the details of the meeting will remain behind closed doors."

Asked if Matthews, as of today, was in the Angels' opening-day plans, Reagins said, "Yes."

But when asked if Matthews would be an Angel a week from now, Reagins said, "This game changes on a daily basis."

Said Scioscia: "Gary has made it clear to us that he wants to play every day, but right now, that's not where we're at. That's not to say it won't happen at some point of the season. . . . He's playing well and showing he's healthy, but we have Rivera, who we're going to give a look to."

Are the Angels concerned that Matthews will become a distraction on a team that opens the regular season on April 6 against Oakland and has World Series aspirations?

"No," Reagins said. "When you're honest with a player, the outcome can be positive. When you're not honest and forthright with a player, that's when it can go the other way."

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com