BASEBALL PLUS : MINOR LEAGUE REPORT : ANGELS: FARM SYSTEM UPDATE : Deal With A’s Looks Good Now

It was one of those baseball trades that always raises a few eyebrows.

The Angels, out of playoff contention in the American League West, traded their starting second baseman, Randy Velarde, and a starting pitcher, Omar Olivares, to the Oakland Athletics for three minor league prospects. The Angels got outfielders Jeff DaVanon and Nathan Haynes along with pitcher Elvin Nina.

At the time, Velarde was batting .306 and Olivares was 8-9 with a 4.05 earned-run average.

So how are the three prospects doing since they moved into the Angel farm system?

DaVanon is batting .324 with six home runs and 14 runs batted in (through Sunday) after 27 games with triple-A Edmonton, where he was sent after playing double-A ball for Oakland. Haynes is with Lake Elsinore in the Class A California League and is batting .327 with one homer and 15 RBIs after 26 games. Haynes, who has stolen 10 bases, was three for five with a home run and a double Sunday against Modesto.

Nina is pitching for the double-A Erie Sea Wolves and is 3-0 with a 4.04 ERA. He has made four starts and has six appearances.

Edmonton (61-72): Brian Cooper has been pitching well for the Trappers since being called up from double-A Erie on Aug. 12. Cooper, a former USC pitcher, is 2-0 with a 3.04 ERA with Edmonton. Cooper went one 13-inning stretch without giving up an earned run.

Erie (77-59): The Sea Wolves’ magic number is two for clinching a spot in the Eastern League playoffs. Erie, hurt by late-season player call-ups, has lost six of its last eight games.

Boise (38-31 second half): Third baseman Robb Quinlan was named the MVP of the Class A Northwest League. Quinlan is batting .325 with eight home runs and 68 RBIs. Outfielder Michael O’Keefe and second baseman Alfredo Amezaga also were named to the league’s all-star team. Butte (14-19): Infielder Cordell Lindsey, batting .344 with nine homers and 56 RBIs, has been selected to the Pioneer League all-star team.