Angels GM: Trout isn’t on the block

AS IF it needed an annual pronouncement, Angels GM Billy Eppler said, “We’re not going to trade him,” regarding Mike Trout. Eppler would not address whether he has attempted to begin extension talks for Trout, who is due to be a free agent after the 2020 campaign.

As for Shohei Ohtani, Eppler said the starter/DH “has more range of motion than the typical Tommy John [patient] after five weeks.” Eppler, though, said he would not have a clear status of Ohtani’s 2019 availability before follow-up testing in January. He did say that he does not expect Ohtani to pitch, but does expect him to be available as a hitter for at least a significant part of the season. GM Matt Klentak said the Phillies had worked for years to create payroll flexibility to add substantial contracts when they thought they were ready to sustain winning. They are the only team viewed as having a chance to perhaps sign both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Klentak would not address either player directly, but said, “This franchise had a big payroll for a long time. We will get there again. I don’t know if it means it has to be this year.” Klentak also would not directly address whether Machado’s postseason behavior — at times lacking hustle, saying in a well-publicized interview that hustle was “not his cup of tea” and being involved in plays that could be viewed as dirty and/or out of control — was disqualifying. “I’m being vague because I don’t want to talk about that player,” Klentak said. But he added, “We will factor it [temperament/makeup issues] into our decision.”

➤ In a move that will add further intrigue to the Giants-Dodgers rivalry, San Francisco has lured away Los Angeles GM Farhan Zaidi to be its president of baseball operations.

Zaidi came with Andrew Friedman after the 2014 season to give the Dodgers one of the more progressive front offices in the majors. This is what the Giants were after. Their president, Larry Baer, launched his search by saying the franchise longed for a “Next-Gen” executive to run baseball operations. Now, San Francisco has one who is armed with inside knowledge of its greatest rival.

Both the Giants and Dodgers now have GM openings. The expectation is San Francisco will fill that role under Zaidi. It is not as certain Friedman will replace Zaidi with another GM. He could have multiple lieutenants with various strengths and contacts in the game.