Read More: jerry dipoto, Prince Fielder (1B – MIL), Albert Pujols (1B – STL), Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels might try and make some moves this offseason. And not just any low-profile signings of a relief pitcher or a utility infielder. No, new Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto is aiming much higher in this race, and looking at some of the big bats in this race.

ESPN Los Angeles has the report.

Jerry Dipoto, newly appointed senior vice president and general manager of the Los Angeles Angels, says not to count out the franchise as a player in the free-agent sweepstakes for Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols.

“Don’t assume that we have no interest in Fielder or Pujols,” Dipoto said in an interview with ESPN.com baseball analyst Jim Bowden. “We don’t want to lock the door. We are a high-revenue team and I’m a big believer in acquiring impact players. However, they are not our greatest need and are not priority number one on our list.”

The Angels really could use help in trying to get their offense going on a more consistent basis, but it’s unclear whether Dipoto would really go for a big bat like Pujols or Fielder. It doesn’t seem like the sort of move Dipoto would make to try and improve his team, because he doesn’t like to spend big money on one player It’s far likelier that the Angels would pursue a starting pitching option to try and shore things up in the rotation and help out guys like Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana.

To discuss Dipoto and Angels baseball, head to Halo’s Heaven.

ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 4 (UPI) — Vernon Wells cracked a tie-breaking homer and Mark Trumbo added a grand slam Saturday in the Los Angeles Angels’ 10-6 win over Minnesota.

Trumbo had given the Angels an early 4-0 lead but Minnesota battled back against Jered Weaver (16-7), who earned the victory despite allowing six runs on eight hits over five innings.

With the score tied 6-6 in the fifth, Wells hit a ball off the top of the center field fence that was confirmed as a go-ahead homer after a video review and the Angels went on to even their three-game series with the Twins.

The victory allowed second-place Los Angeles to gain a game on American League West-leading Texas, pulling to within 3 1/2 games.

Phil Dumatrait (1-3) took the loss after yielding Wells’ homer after starter Brian Duensing lasted only 1 1/3 frames, in which he surrendered five runs on three hits.

Trevor Plouffe drove in four runs with a bases-clearing double and a run-scoring single for the Twins.

Read More: Joe Mauer (C – MIN), Jered Weaver (P – ANA), Brian Duensing (P – MIN), Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Angels, Sep 3, 2011 6:05 PM PDT

The Los Angeles Angels have a chance to gain a full game on the Texas Rangers Saturday night in the American League West. The Rangers lost 12-7 to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday afternoon, meaning an Angels’ win would pull them to within three and a half games in the division.

Joe Mauer, who was a late scratch Friday night with a respiratory infection, is back in the lineup Saturday. Mauer is playing first base, his 16th start at the position this season.

Jered Weaver gets the call for the Angels, looking for yet another home run. Weaver has allowed 14 runs in 12 starts in Anaheim this season. Brian Duensing gets the call for the Twins. Here are Saturday night’s starting lineups:

Twins (58-79)

Revere CF
Plouffe 2B
Mauer 1B
Cuddyer RF
Kubel DH
Valencia 3B
Tosoni LF
Nishioka SS
Butera C

Angels (74-64)

Bourjos CF
Callaspo 3B
Kendrick 2B
Hunter DH
Trumbo 1B
Wells LF
Trout RF
Aybar SS
Mathis C

For more news and information on the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven.

The Los Angeles
Angels launched five home runs in a crucial 8-4 victory
over Texas on Saturday that reinvigorated their pursuit of the
first-place Rangers in the American League West.

Having been beaten in a series-opening 11-7 loss to the
Rangers one night earlier, the Angels (72-60) hit back with a
power-hitting clinic that pulled them back within two games of
Texas (75-59) in the division.

Vernon Wells began the slug-fest with a solo homer in the
second inning, while Mike Trout and Bobby Wilson hit
back-to-back blasts against Texas starter C.J. Wilson in the
fourth to give Los Angeles a 4-0 lead.

Peter Bourjos and Howard Kendrick got in on the action with
long bombs in the fifth and seventh innings respectively and
Angels pitcher Ervin Santana (10-9) had enough support to earn
the win after allowing four runs in seven innings.

Wilson (13-6) took the loss having surrendered six runs and
10 hits in five innings.

Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia altered his pitching
rotation prior to this critical three-game series to ensure his
team would have their top three throwers on the mound.

The Angels will conclude the series with ace Jered Weaver on
Sunday as they try to inch closer to the Rangers.

ANAHEIM, Calif., Aug. 25 (UPI) — Jered Weaver and two relievers blanked Chicago Wednesday and moved the Los Angeles Angels closer to the division lead with an 8-0 win over the White Sox.

A week ago the Angels were one inning away from falling eight games behind Texas for the lead in the American League West. Los Angeles rallied in that game against the Rangers and has now won six in a row — a streak that has brought the Angels within 2 2/1 games of the top spot.

Weaver (15-6) gave up four hits and struck out eight over seven innings to end a four-start winless streak. Bobby Cassevah and Fernando Rodney worked an inning each to complete the shutout.

Erick Aybar led the Los Angeles offense, driving in the game’s first run with a single in the second and producing a two-run double in the seventh.

Torii Hunter had a solo homer and Jeff Mathis, Alberto Callaspo and Bobby Abreu each had an RBI double.

Zach Stewart (1-3) absorbed the loss, giving up seven runs on seven hits in six innings.

Read More: Torii Hunter (RF – ANA), Jered Weaver (P – ANA), Erick Aybar (SS – ANA), Jeff Mathis (C – ANA), Mark Trumbo (1B – ANA), Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox, Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Angels, Aug 24, 2011 7:05 PM PDT

It looks like we have a race again in the American League West. The Los Angeles Angels slugged six extra-base hits on the night, backing seven shutout innings from ace Jered Weaver, beating the Chicago White Sox 8-0 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The win was the sixth straight for the Angels.

Coupled with the Texas Rangers’ 13-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox, the Angels are now just two and a half games behind Texas for first place in the American League West. Just six nights ago, the Angels were three outs away from getting swept by Texas and falling eight games back, but Mark Trumbo’s two-run walk-off home run snatched vistory from the jaws of defeat and the Angels have not looked back.

The Angels got production from the bottom of their order Wednesday night, starting in the second inning. Erick Aybar singled in Trumbo to open the scoring, then Jeff Mathis of all people hit a two-run double to push the lead to 3-0. The Angels tacked on four runs in the seventh inning, which included three run-scoring doubles, including a two-run two-bagger from Aybar.

Torii Hunter hit a solo home run in the third inning, his 18th long ball of the season. That was Hunter’s only hit of the night, but it continued his scorching August. Hunter has a hit in 20 of 21 games this month, hitting .392/.448/.646 with five home runs.

Weaver was magnificent in his first start since signing a five-year, $85 million contract extension earlier in the week. He pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks, while striking out eight. Weaver lowered his league-leading ERA to 2.03 on the season. Weaver earned his 15th victory of the season, one shy of his career high, set in 2009.

Weaver has allowed 14 runs in 12 home starts this season, and is 7-1 with a 1.38 ERA in Anaheim.

More importantly, Weaver threw just 96 pitches, and might pitch Sunday on three days rest against the Rangers in Arlington. The Angels are off Thursday before beginning a weekend showdown series in Texas.

For more news and information on the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven.