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No one asked about Glaus

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Times Staff Writer

TORONTO -- The Angels and Dodgers could use a power-hitting third baseman, but neither team called the Toronto Blue Jays about Troy Glaus before the July 31 trading deadline.

No team did, according to Toronto General Manager J.P. Ricciardi.

“We really weren’t asked about him,” Ricciardi said Tuesday. “That was more media speculation.

“We didn’t have anybody call us up and say, ‘Would you move Troy Glaus and what would you move him for?’ ”

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The Dodgers, in particular, had concerns about Glaus’ durability. Glaus has battled plantar fasciitis all season, a painful foot injury that forced him onto the disabled list in April and flared up again this week.

“Same thing it’s been all year,” Glaus said. “It gets worse, it gets better, it gets worse, it gets better.”

Glaus is hitting .253 with 15 home runs and 49 runs batted in. The Blue Jays are fighting to stay above .500.

“We haven’t played up to our expectations,” he said. “I haven’t played as often or as well as I would like. Top to bottom, it’s frustrating.”

Glaus, MVP of the 2002 World Series, said he considered it “a compliment” when he hears Angels fans want him back in Anaheim. But he has a no-trade clause and said he doesn’t waste time worrying about trade rumors because the Jays would have to run any deal by him.

“This is my 10th season. I’ve been traded for six of them,” he said. “Before me, it was Garret [Anderson]. Before him, it was Jimmy [Edmonds]. I learned a long time ago not to sit and speculate about what somebody’s wild idea might be.”

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The Angels are keeping an eye on right-handed reliever Rich Thompson, a 23-year-old Australian. After the Futures Game, the Angels promoted him to triple-A Salt Lake, where he has a 2.08 earned-run average in 17 innings, with three walks and 22 strikeouts.

“Thompson has really popped up on our radar,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Scioscia said the Angels would increase the pitching staff “from 11 to at least 14 or 15” when rosters expand in September. Thompson could be a candidate, although the Angels might be more inclined to promote relievers already on the 40-man roster, including Marcus Gwyn and Chris Resop.

Ervin Santana, who could come up from Salt Lake to start one of the games of Friday’s doubleheader in Boston, is expected to come back in September.

Catcher Mike Napoli said his strained hamstring tightened when he tried to run at full speed Saturday. If he can run full speed Thursday and Friday, the Angels could activate him this weekend. If not, Napoli might need a minor league rehabilitation assignment before his activation. . . . Scioscia said he gave shortstop Orlando Cabrera the day off -- after the Angels had Monday off -- to “let him catch his breath” and pace him on Toronto’s turf. He had played in 113 of the Angels’ first 116 games. Cabrera, less than thrilled, said he felt “perfect.”. . . Gary Matthews Jr. returned to center field for the first time in six days. He said the soreness in his left knee had subsided but not entirely disappeared. . . . Second baseman Howie Kendrick and outfielder Juan Rivera started rehabilitation assignments.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

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