The coming of Brandon Wood has been foretold in story and blog for years now (but not song yet, I don’t think). Earlier this season, Angels manager Mike Scioscia and GM Tony Reagins each had the same thing to say — that Wood’s “time” would come … but it wasn’t here quite yet.

Wood (still only 24 after a third season split between Triple-A and the majors) reaches a crossroads this winter. While the potential for change in the Angels’ roster this off-season is great, Wood is out of minor-league options — which means he cannot be sent to the minors next season without clearing waivers first (highly unlikely).

So where does Wood fit in the Angels’ plans for next season?

“We’ve internally talked about this for a long time. I’m sure there’s a decision that has to be made with a lot of guys,” Scioscia said Tuesday. “He’s absolutely ready for the opportunity much like Kendry Morales was.

“Now I’m not saying he’s going to put up Kendry’s numbers. But as far as where he is and what he’s going to accomplish playing at a level outside the major leagues is not going to move his career forward. … Just because you’re ready for the challenge doesn’t mean you’re going to jump in and hit 34 bombs and drive in 105 runs or whatever (as Morales did in his first full major-league season). That’s not what we’re saying. What we’re saying is right now he’s ready for that challenge.

“The next growth stage is going to be major-league experience for this guy and eventually he might be like Howie (Kendrick) — struggle, figure it out and take off. He might be like (Erick) Aybar — play okay, figure it out and get to your level. Maybe he’s like Kendry Morales and, boom, it clicks and he does what Kendry did. We don’t know. We don’t have a crystal ball. But right now he’s not going to get any better outside of seeing major-league pitching and starting to adjust from that. So, yeah, he’s ready for that challenge. But there’s a lot of things obviously moving forward this winter that are out of his control.”

One of those things is Chone Figgins’ future employment.

If Figgins leaves via free agency, it would seem natural to then pencil Wood in as the Angels’ starting third baseman in 2010 — much as the
Angels did with Morales at first base when Mark Teixeira left as a free agent last winter.

The situations are not quite the same, Scioscia said. While Wood can play three positions (first base, shortstop and third base), the Angels are set at two of the three for a long, long time (Morales at first and Aybar at short).

With Morales last winter, the Angels had him pencilled into their 2009 lineup regardless of how the negotiations with Teixeira played out. Morales was their fallback position at first base if Teixeira left. But if Teixeira had signed with the team, neither Juan Rivera or Bobby Abreu would have been signed, clearing a corner outfield spot for Morales.

The options to get Wood into the 2010 lineup are fewer and Scioscia was not willing to say that Wood would be his third baseman next year if Figgins leaves.

“Obviously if Figgy’s not here then you’re going to look at a guy like Brandon getting the opportunities he’s been working hard for,” Scioscia said. ”If Figgy’s not here, obviously he’d be in the mix to go out and win a job. It’s never ordained.”

There are other scenarios that could play out — if Figgins re-signs with the Angels but Abreu and/or Vladimir Guerrero leaves, Figgins could move to the outfield, clearing third base for Wood.

One scenario that Scioscia ruled out, however, was making Wood learn yet another position like the outfield.

“Brandon Wood’s got the chance to be a dynamic defender wherever you play him on the infield,” Scioscia said. “That’s a positive that we would look at.”

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