Jered Weaver has ‘no hard feelings’ toward Angels after arbitration loss, but talks for long-term deal appear dead

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Pitcher Jered Weaver reported to the Angels’ spring-training camp Sunday saying he had ‘no hard feelings’ toward the team after losing his arbitration case last week, but any chance the team has of signing its ace to a long-term deal will apparently have to wait until next winter.

‘From my understanding, talks never went anywhere,’ Weaver said of recent negotiations between the team and his agent, Scott Boras. ‘I’m open to it. I would love to play for the Angels for a long time. But I don’t want it hanging over my head for the season. Talks are done for now.’

Weaver spent four hours Wednesday in Phoenix at his arbitration hearing, after which a panel of three ruled in favor of the Angels, who had offered Weaver $7.365 million. Weaver, who went 13-12 with a 3.01 earned run average and a major-league-leading 233 strikeouts last season, had asked for $8.8 million.

‘It was good, it was interesting, kind of fun in a way,’ Weaver said of the hearing. ‘It’s not like you’re sitting in match class and not paying attention. It was one of those things I wish I didn’t have to do, but the game has become very business-oriented, and I found out business is business.’

The arbitration process is often contentious, with teams forced to disparage even their best players in an effort to prove why they are worth less than what they’re asking for. Some players walk away with bruised egos and a bitter taste in their mouths, which can fuel animosity toward their teams and, in some cases, help spur a decision to leave when they hit free agency.

Weaver, though, said his hearing ‘wasn’t too harsh. I have thick skin. Nothing the team said bothered me. We told them how we felt. The Angels told them how they felt, and the arbitrators agreed with what the Angels had to say.’

For more on Weaver and the Angels later Sunday, go to www.latimes.com/sports.

-- Mike DiGiovanna in Tempe, Ariz.