Angels general manager insists he is not shopping Peter Bourjos

DETROIT — Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto tried to quell the latest trade rumors involving Peter Bourjos on Wednesday, saying that “at no point have we called and offered Bourjos to anybody, for a reliever or a starter.”

One Internet report claimed the Angels “are willing to offer Bourjos for the right” pitcher and that the team is known to have interest in Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels, Milwaukee right-hander Zack Greinke and Minnesota left-hander Francisco Liriano.

Dipoto has not ruled out trading Bourjos, the speedy, Gold Glove-caliber center fielder who has been replaced in the lineup by rookie Mike Trout, but he has said repeatedly that Bourjos is in the team’s future plans and that he has no desire to trade him.

“Peter, right now, is a popular name, and rightfully so — he’s a talented young player with some ceiling who is not getting regular playing time,” Dipoto said. “That tends to create a scent for the wolves.”

The Angels have been linked in trade rumors with numerous starters and relievers, “but we have nothing significant or imminent at this time,” Dipoto said. “Like everyone else, we’re doing our due diligence.”

Many believe a new wrinkle in the collective bargaining agreement that eliminates draft-pick compensation for teams that acquire rental players such as Hamels or Greinke and then lose them the next off-season has slowed the market and could inhibit trade activity.

“There are different dynamics in play that are creating a drag on the market, but I don’t think it’s moving at any quicker or slower pace, or that more or less players will be available at the right price,” Dipoto said. “I just don’t know that we’ve determined as an industry what the appropriate value is for those players.”

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