"I'm slowly getting over the shock and the idea I won't be in St. Louis," Bottenfield said Friday -- a day after being dealt to the Angels with second baseman Adam Kennedy for outfielder Jim Edmonds.

"(Friday) was a very hard day, going in, talking to the guys, saying good-bye," Bottenfield said on a conference call from Jupiter, Fla., where the Cardinals hold spring training. "That was very hard, realizing this was the city and the atmosphere that turned my career around."

A 31-year-old right-hander, Bottenfield went 18-7 with a 3.97 ERA for the Cardinals last season. He entered the year with a total of 18 big league wins spread over the previous six campaigns.

Pitching certainly is an area of need for the Angels, who were without a proven starter before the deal was consummated.

"I don't know if that's what I am or not," Bottenfield said when asked about becoming his new team's No. 1 starter immediately. "I'm comfortable with that. I've always been the kind of guy who's enjoyed the pressure of being counted on.

"I'm excited about the opportunity I've got coming out to Anaheim. I don't know the team that well. I know they can put up some serious numbers offensively. I know they have a dominant closer (in Troy Percival)."

Bottenfield credited Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan with helping to turn his career around, and said he had heard good things about Anaheim pitching coach Bud Black from Angels reliever Mark Petkovsek, whom he spoke with late Thursday.

"Everything I've gotten has been very encouraging news," Bottenfield said. "I look forward to coming out and helping that pitching staff. I'll put us in a position to win many, many times."

Bottenfield said he expected to have a breakout season last year, and made a statement in spring training that if he started every fifth day, he would win 15 games.

He went three better.

"I'm not putting myself on this level, but I'm a Greg Maddux type of pitcher," he said. "Guys will walk away from home plate wondering how I got them out.

"I try to learn the hitters and get to know them better than they know themselves. I try to find a weakness and exploit it. I have to rely on my brain probably more than my ability."

Bottenfield said he will join the Angels at their Tempe, Ariz., spring training site late Saturday and be in uniform Sunday. It's possible he'll pitch as early as Monday, when he was scheduled to work for the Cardinals.

Among those competing for berths in the Angels rotation are veterans Ken Hill, Kent Mercker and Tom Candiotti, and youngsters Ramon Ortiz, Brian Cooper and Scott Schoeneweis. Tim Belcher, another veteran, underwent surgery on his pitching shoulder Dec. 2 and isn't expected back until May.

Kennedy, 24, joined the Angels on Friday and might play as early as Saturday. He figures to compete with Scott Spiezio for the starting job at second base.