7/12 13:27: Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says the Angels do not want to seek a first baseman who is under contract beyond this season because Kendry Morales will be back next season, and they plan to pursue Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Carl Crawford as a free agent.

7/11 12:20: When Angels GM Tony Reagins was asked for his reaction to the Cliff Lee deal, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Rigister he said, “I don’t have a reaction.”

“No, I just believe that initially we have to play better baseball,” the GM said. “I think there are always opportunities and options to improve the situation. But I think it starts from within first and this team can play better. If we go out and add pieces but we’re still not playing up to our capabilities, that’s not going to get us to our goals.”

Plunkett adds that the Angels had scouts watching the Washington Nationals, Florida Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks recently.

Candidates that the Angels could go after include Those three teams could offer varying options in Adam Dunn (Nationals), Adam LaRoche (Diamondbacks), Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla (Marlins) or an outfielder like Josh Willingham (Nationals).

“I’m not going to get into what players we’re scouting and who we’re looking at,” Reagins said. “I can tell you we’re constantly looking at opportunities and options that are out there to improve our ballclub.”

One prospect that the Angels could trade is 2009 first round pick, outfielder Mike Trout, who is currently in Single-A. The 18-year-old is hitting .362/.454/.526 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

7/10 15:24: Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says Los Angeles Angels owner Art Moreno is not going to stand idle in the wake of the Cliff Lee deal to the Texas Rangers. A corner infield bat remains the priority for the team, but the Angels have different views on how to address first and third base.

They are looking at rentals at first since Kendry Morales will return before the end of the season. Adam Dunn of the Washington Nationals is a candidate at first, but his price tag is very high. Adam LaRoche of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ty Wigginton of the Baltimore Orioles and Jorge Cantu of the Florida Marlins could fit, but may not make enough of an impact.

At third they are looking for players that they can control beyond this season. Rosenthal says Wigginton could also fit at third base and Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Rosenthal throws in a few speculations that the Angels could go after. He suggests Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Casey McGehee of the Brewers.