L.A. Times, Ben Bolch:

General Manager Bill Stoneman said he was not disappointed in his inability to bolster the Angels before the non-waiver trade deadline because the team already possesses the necessary tools to reach the postseason.

“In terms of playing talent we’ve got, it’s good talent and it’s going to be good talent for a while,” Stoneman said.

The Angels started Tuesday in sole possession of first place in the American League West for the 83rd consecutive day. They were tied with Toronto for the fourth-best earned-run average (4.17) in the AL and ranked fifth in runs scored (524).

“I think we’ve got a great group of guys in here that can do the job,” shortstop Orlando Cabrera said. “You never know if a trade is going to help you.”

Stoneman said he was not concerned that division rival Texas used the Angels as leverage to complete a six-player deal with the Atlanta Braves for slugger Mark Teixeira. The Rangers received a pair of coveted prospects in the deal after the Angels refused to part with a package of highly touted players.

“Those are things that are possible but really not within our control, so you don’t worry about it,” Stoneman said. “If you have an objective, if you think there’s a player out there or two or more that might help you, you go for it.”

After failing to acquire Teixeira, Stoneman said a deal for a lesser player wouldn’t have helped because it might have disrupted a winning formula.

“You have to reach a deal that you think will leave you better off, not worse off,” Stoneman said. “With the chemistry we have, we don’t even want to do a neutral deal.”

Manager Mike Scioscia said the best trades are sometimes the ones that are not made, noting that right-hander John Lackey could have been moved in a deadline deal years before he blossomed into one of the top starters in the league.

“A deal would have been made if it was going to make us better now and in the future,” Scioscia said. “It just didn’t materialize. I know Bill made a terrific bid to make this club better.”

Asked if owner Arte Moreno was dissatisfied with no trades, Stoneman said, “No, because you can’t be unhappy if you have a good ballclub.”

Mike Napoli has taken a teammate’s bat across the nose and badly sprained his ankle during a home-plate collision. His latest injury “felt like somebody stabbed me in the back of my leg.”

“Hopefully, it ends here,” the catcher said of his litany of injuries. Napoli began his comeback from the strained right hamstring he suffered last week by playing catch Tuesday and could begin hitting soft toss as soon as today.

Infielder Erick Aybar, recovering from surgery on his right hand, is scheduled to leave for triple-A Salt Lake today and could begin his rehabilitation assignment with the Bees as soon as tonight. Scioscia estimated that Aybar would need to play at least four or five minor league games before rejoining the Angels. . . . Bartolo Colon threw on flat ground for the first time in the first step of his recovery from irritation in his right elbow. . . . With Dustin Moseley having moved from the bullpen to the rotation, Scioscia said the Angels would probably stay with 12 pitchers through at least the weekend. Scioscia confirmed that Moseley would start Friday against Oakland.