Angels can win AL West, GM Reagins says

There is a growing sentiment that the Angels are more than one player away from contending for the World Series, and that they’d be better off holding on to the few top prospects they have rather than trading for a player who might not push them past Texas this season.

Don’t lump General Manager Tony Reagins into that group.

“Are you saying we should throw in the towel on this season?” Reagins said during Wednesday’s optional workout at Angel Stadium. “I’m not going to do that, by any means. There are areas we can improve in, and getting [third baseman Maicer] Izturis back will help. We still think we can win this division.”

The Angels are 4 1/2 games behind the Rangers, and Texas appears to have the stronger team.

The Angels might have enough prospects to trade for a slugger such as Washington’s Adam Dunn, but most of Reagins’ trade talks for impact talent start with outfield prospect Mike Trout, who led the Midwest League in several categories before being promoted to Class-A Rancho Cucamonga this week.

If the Angels trade Trout and another top prospect, such as catcher Hank Conger, first baseman Mark Trumbo or pitchers Trevor Reckling or Tyler Skaggs, they would put a dent in an already thin farm system.

Where the Angels are in the standings after next week’s six-game trip to New York and Texas may determine whether they add or subtract a veteran before the July 31 trade deadline.

The Angels are coming off a 1-6 road trip to Chicago and Oakland, but Reagins said, “We believe we’re going to play better. If we play good, consistent baseball, we’re right in the thick of this thing.”

Rotation reprieve

Manager Mike Scioscia could have used the upcoming off day Monday to skip Scott Kazmir in the rotation, but he will stick with the struggling left-hander despite Kazmir’s 7-9 record, 6.92 earned-run average and a five-inning, 13-run, 11-hit outing in Oakland on Saturday.

Joel Pineiro, Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana will start a four-game series against Seattle that begins Thursday night, and Kazmir will start in Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.

“He’s obviously going to have to contribute for us to reach our goal,” Scioscia said. “He’ll take a breather, and hopefully he can come back and be productive.”

Return is near

Izturis hit on the field Wednesday for the first time since suffering an injured left forearm June 15, and he could begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment next week, putting him about 10 days away from returning to the Angels.

“He’s swinging with more authority, but he wasn’t really letting it all out,” Scioscia said. “It can come quickly if his batting practice picks up in the next few days, but he’s got to get over the hurdle of turning it loose in BP and repeating it.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

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