There has been no time for boogie boarding yet, though teammate Justin Speier promises that's definitely on the agenda.

Even though Brian Fuentes is a California guy again, a few other things have taken precedence over the beach.

First, there's the newest addition to his family, 4-month-old Farrah, who has kept the father of four and his wife, Barbara, busy this offseason.

Then there's his new contract with the Los Angeles Angels to live up to, one that took him away from the Rocky Mountains and into a higher tax bracket.

"He has ownership of his career, and I think he knows that," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said last weekend after the first day of spring training. "Whatever drill he was in, or when he was throwing his bullpen, he was the lead dog, and you wouldn't expect anything less from a guy like Brian."

There's no question the Angels, a team that rolled to 100 victories last year but was swept in the first round of the playoffs, have high hopes for the veteran left-hander.

When Fuentes, 33, became available, having declined arbitration with the Rockies after last season, the Angels pounced on him, signing him to a two-year, $17.5 million deal - with a $9 million option for 2011 that will vest if he finishes 55 games in 2010.

He will be replacing record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez, who signed a three-year, $37 million deal with the Mets after saving a major league record 62 games in 2008.

"We don't want him to be any other player," Angels general manager Tony Reagins said. "We just want him to be himself, and that's good enough for us."

Fuentes insists the only pressure he feels is that which he places on himself.

"I feel good. I'm healthy. I'm in shape," he said. "Obviously, I want to do well, and that's my goal, to close the door in the ninth inning."

He did that very well at the end of last season in Colorado. Even though Fuentes' record was only 1-5, he posted a career-low 2.73 ERA, including a second half in which he converted 16-of-16 save opportunities and had a 1.75 ERA.

Reagins believes the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Fuentes will be even more effective because American League hitters aren't as familiar with him.

"His style is very deceptive," Reagins said of Fuentes' unorthodox, sidearm, short-arm delivery. "Hitters don't see his ball well, and I think that will be a problem."

Full circle

Wearing a jersey with a halo on it certainly won't be a problem for Fuentes, who grew up in Merced, Calif., 300 miles from Anaheim and 130 from San Francisco.

"I was more of an Oakland fan growing up," he admits. "But what's special (about the Angels) is it's just a winning organization. They have a tradition of winning. For as long as I remember, they've been competitive, and you want to be part of that. You always want to win, but when you're a free agent and actually have a choice . . . it was fitting."

Fuentes, who likes the slower pace of Merced, has kept his home there and returns every year to watch practices at a place that helped launch his career - Merced College.

"When I was here, guys like Steve Whitaker and Anthony Chavez would come back and talk to the guys. It's a great opportunity to learn from a professional, get advice, or just show the players that there's opportunity for them to play at the highest levels," Fuentes told the Merced Sun-Star last month.

It was no surprise, then, he chose California over St. Louis.

It's home.

And once the season starts, he'll make sure his family is with him in Anaheim.

With Farrah, 16-month-old fraternal twins and a 3-year-old boy, it has made for a busy offseason.

"It's hard, especially when they're so small," the unassuming Fuentes said. "There's not a whole lot they can do for themselves. So I'm helping out. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

But now that spring training has started, he concedes, "This is almost a little vacation."

Full circle 2

Helping keep things light, no doubt, will be Speier, who played two seasons with Fuentes in Colorado.

"There were good times out there," Speier said. "I remember when he was setting up for me. I guess I'm the old man now, so I'm going to work for him. But it's just been an enjoyable process, to see his career grow. He's been so dominant in that league. We're just excited to have him as an integral piece of our bullpen."

Is it strange, setting up for Fuentes?

"No. Everything comes full circle," he said, noting former Rockies reliever Darren Oliver also is an Angel now. "We all played in Colorado, and now we're all in the bullpen together here. It's nice to have familiar faces. It will be cool."

The key for Fuentes will be making the most of his time in spring training before leaving to participate in the World Baseball Classic.

"We're excited to have him, but there's a lot of work we have to do before he leaves to pitch in the WBC," Scioscia said. "When new players come over, it's one thing if the guy's an outfielder, one thing if he's an infielder. We have to get that chemistry. But if it's a pitcher-catcher relationship, that takes a lot of time."

Scioscia, a two-time All-Star catcher in his playing days with the Dodgers, acknowledges expectations are high this year.

The Angels have won four AL West titles and a World Series (2002) under Scioscia, and last year they rolled to a big-league-best 100-62 regular-season record, though they were swept by Boston in an AL Divisional Series.

"We feel we're championship caliber," Scioscia said.

"To see a guy like Brian and how he worked, he's going to fit right in with these guys. I think he feels comfortable. We're happy to have him, and I think he's happy to be here."

There is one adjustment, though, Speier said.

"He said he feels strange in red, but he's going to get used to it quite quick," he said.

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