Despite Angels’ poor start, GM says Mike Scioscia’s job is not in jeopardy

The Angels are 19 games back in the American League West with four starting pitchers still on the shelf, and they had a .206 hitter in the cleanup spot Tuesday night, grim realities for a team that hasn’t hit the halfway point of the season and is already far out of contention.

But a first half filled with heavy losses — on the field and in the training room — is not expected to cost Manager Mike Scioscia his job. Nor will it trigger a fire sale, in which the Angels trade as many useful veterans as they can for young big leaguers or prospects to boost baseball’s thinnest farm system.

“With the financial strength of this organization, it’s not in the DNA here to rebuild,” General Manager Billy Eppler said before a 7-1 loss to the Houston Astros in Angel Stadium.

And how would Eppler define a rebuild?

“Punting everything,” he said.

Scioscia, in his 17th year with the Angels, has two more years — and $12 million — left on his contract after this season. Eppler praised Scioscia for his “energy and enthusiasm” and for being so “even-keeled.”

But is Scioscia safe?

“His job is not in jeopardy,” Eppler said.

That won’t appease fans who are frustrated with the Angels’ 32-46 record entering Tuesday, but it’s hard to pin the team’s woes on the manager.

Few expected the Angels to compete after losing their two best starters, Garrett Richards and Andrew Heaney, to elbow injuries in April and May, respectively.

There is also a steep drop-off in the lineup beyond the first four hitters —Yunel Escobar, Kole Calhoun, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols — and the bullpen is nowhere near as talented or deep as the Angels thought it would be.

Scioscia did not assemble the club. Eppler and the front office did, under heavy financial constraints from an owner (Arte Moreno) who was extremely reluctant to push his payroll beyond the $189-million luxury tax threshold.

Eppler has made it clear he has no interest in trading Trout, considered the game’s best all-around player. But setup man Joe Smith, in the final year of a three-year contract; Escobar, the third baseman with a $7-million option for 2017, and closer Huston Street, signed through 2017, could be dealt.

Calhoun, under club control for three more years, would command the biggest return in a trade, but he also has great value to the Angels.

Eppler said he has “not been very active” in trade talks, but the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline is still a month away. “We’re not up against any decision at this point in time,” he said.

Eppler does not seem inclined to deal a core player such as Calhoun.

“I think you can serve both masters — you can contend and compete at the major league level while maintaining a commitment to build the farm system,” he said. “I think we’ll do both. We’re going to try to contend year in and year out.”

Eppler is pleased with the effort of the Angels.

“The one thing that is a positive is the fact that these guys have not stopped fighting; they’re coming back late in games, there’s absolutely no quit,” Eppler said. “That’s a good thing for us, the fans and the coaching staff to see.”

Because the effort is good, does that suggest the Angels have incurred too many injuries or simply lack the talent to compete for a playoff spot?

“I don’t think we have a lack of talent here,” Eppler said. “I think some guys haven’t achieved what they’re accustomed to achieving, but at the end of the day, there is talent on this roster that we will continue to supplement. …

“Our goal is to continue to bring in championship-caliber players, whether that’s through the draft, international signings, minor league free agency or major league free agency. Know the type of player you’re gravitating to, identify it in the marketplace and try to acquire it.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeDiGiovanna