Angels scouting numerous trade targets, including Reds’ Jay Bruce

The Angels had a high-ranking scout in Cincinnati over the weekend to watch Reds outfielder Jay Bruce, but a person familiar with the team’s thinking who is not authorized to discuss it said it was part of the due diligence the Angels are doing with a number of trade targets and that no deal was brewing at this point.

The Angels are looking for an upgrade over left fielder Matt Joyce, who entered Sunday night’s game against the Boston Red Sox with a .189 average, .282 on-base percentage, .316 slugging percentage, five homers and 20 runs batted in.

They would prefer a corner outfielder who bats left-handed, and Bruce, who has a .255/.342/.474 slash line with 14 homers and 46 RBIs for a non-contender that is in sell mode heading into the July 31 trade deadline, fits the bill.

Bruce, 28, could also be attractive because he makes a relatively affordable $12 million this season and is signed for $12.5 million in 2016 with a $13-million club option for 2017.

Among the other possible trade targets are San Diego’s Justin Upton, who bats right-handed, Milwaukee’s Adam Lind and Gerardo Parra, Philadelphia’s Ben Revere, Atlanta’s Nick Markakis, the Chicago White Sox’s Adam LaRoche, Oakland’s Josh Reddick and Ben Zobrist, and possibly the Dodgers’ Andre Ethier.

The Angels are deeper in pitching prospects than position players, but they have no interest in trading top pitching prospect Sean Newcomb, a 2014 first-round pick who is at Class-A Inland Empire and pitched in the recent Futures Game.

It’s possible the Angels could deal a pitcher from their big league rotation, such as C.J. Wilson, if the player in return has a sizable contract.