Angels say there’s no deal in works for Peter Bourjos

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Washington has long coveted Peter Bourjos, but the Angels, despite a FoxSports.com report that they’ve had “preliminary discussions” with the Nationals about a deal, do not seem eager to trade the speedy center fielder.

“We constantly field calls about players, but we are not actively shopping Peter Bourjos or looking for a fit for him,” Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto said. “We believe he’s an asset to us.”

The Angels are not quite sure what to do with that asset. Bourjos, who is hitting .192, was not in the lineup Friday night for the 10th time in 12 games, having lost his job to Mike Trout.

Because Bourjos is a developing player — he’s 25 with a year and a half of big league experience — would he be better off going to triple-A Salt Lake and playing every day in hopes of finding the stroke that helped him hit .271 with 12 home runs, 11 triples and 26 doubles last season?

“We’re going to explore all opportunities to get him where he needs to be,” Dipoto said. “The minor leagues are an option for any player, but as of now, we feel we’re a better team with Peter.”

Morales hurt

Designated hitter Kendrys Morales, who missed a year and a half because of a broken left ankle, has a sore left Achilles’ tendon and was not in Friday’s lineup.

The injury has bothered Morales for three or four days, and he grew concerned enough Friday to call Dr. Thomas Clanton, who performed the second surgery on the ankle last May in Colorado.

“He told me it’s normal for that to bother me, since I’ve gone almost two years without playing regularly, and that I need to take a day or two off to rest,” Morales said through an interpreter. “There’s no real risk [of a major setback] because it’s the Achilles’.”

Morales is taking anti-inflammatory medication and hopes to return to the lineup by Sunday, but if the discomfort persists, he could receive an injection.

Catching shuffle

Catcher Chris Iannetta underwent surgery Friday to remove a broken bone in his right wrist and will be out six to eight weeks. Bobby Wilson took over as the starter, and the Angels called up John Hester from triple A to serve as backup.

“You don’t like to see a buddy go down — that’s not the way you want to win a job,” Wilson said. “But I have to take full advantage of it. I’ve been staying ready for this chance for three or four years.”

Hester, who appeared in 53 games for Arizona in 2009-2010, was released by Baltimore in late April and signed with the Angels, hitting .222 in eight games at Salt Lake.

“It’s going to be a crash course learning these pitchers,” said Hester, a Stanford graduate. “But I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Reckling wreck

Three years removed from being named the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year, left-hander Trevor Reckling was released by the Angels this week, the velocity of his fastball and his command in serious decline.

Reckling played in the 2009 Futures Game but after starting 2010 with a 4-7 record and 8.53 earned-run average at triple A, he was demoted to double A, where he spent all of 2011.

He was demoted this season to Class-A Inland Empire, where he gave up 14 earned runs, walked 15 and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings.

“He had a very difficult time navigating the strike zone, and his stuff regressed,” Dipoto said. “It was time to make a move.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com