ANAHEIM -- Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who could be activated from the injured list as soon as Wednesday, is drawing interest ahead of Wednesday’s 1 p.m. PT Trade Deadline, according to a report from MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal.

Lucroy, who went 2-for-4 with a homer and a double in his second and final rehab game with Class A Advanced Inland Empire on Tuesday night, has been out since July 7, when the Astros’ Jake Marisnick collided with him at home plate, resulting in a concussion and a fractured nose. The Angels have a day game Wednesday and an off-day Thursday, which is why they could wait until Friday’s series opener in Cleveland to reinstate Lucroy.

Or the Angels could look to move Lucroy, who was signed to a one-year deal worth $3.35 million in the offseason. The 33-year-old is hitting .237/.307/.364 with seven homers, seven doubles and 30 RBIs in 73 games. He’s also a veteran leader with playoff experience, as he participated in the postseason in 2011 with the Brewers, 2016 with the Rangers, 2017 with the Rockies and last year with the A's.

Dustin Garneau and Kevan Smith have split duties at catcher in Lucroy’s absence, and both are out of Minor League options, which complicates the situation. Garneau is a better defensive catcher than Smith, but Smith has a better track record as a hitter in parts of four seasons in the Majors. Smith, though, was scratched from Tuesday's game with right big toe soreness, so there's a chance he could be placed on the 10-day IL to make room for Lucroy.

Trading Lucroy would allow the Angels to keep both Garneau and Smith. They also have catchers Jose Briceno and Anthony Bemboom on their 40-man roster, so they do have some depth at the position, especially with Briceno getting closer to a return from a right shoulder strain that has kept him out since mid-May.

Garneau, 31, is hitting .231/.351/.369 with two homers, three doubles and seven RBIs in 27 games, while Smith, 31, has batted .264/.349/.400 with two homers, nine doubles and 12 RBIs in 36 games.

"They all have their assets, attributes that we like,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. “There is going to be a tough decision. I can't tell you what it is going to be, but it's going to be coming here quickly. You can make an argument for all three of them."

The Angels are looking for starting pitching at the Trade Deadline, but even if they traded Lucroy, he’s not expected to bring a sizeable return.

They’d have to dip into their improved farm system to make a trade for a starter, especially considering they want pitchers under contract beyond this year. With fourth outfielder Brian Goodwin also garnering interest, according to a report from ESPN’s Buster Olney, it’s possible the Angels could be both buyers and sellers at the Deadline, offloading veterans, while also looking to improve the pitching staff with an eye more toward 2020.

Ramirez activated, McCreery DFA’d

Right-handed reliever JC Ramírez was activated from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday after completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery. With the Angels needing a 40-man spot to reinstate Ramirez, they designated left-handed reliever Adam McCreery for assignment. McCreery was called up by the Angels on Monday, but never saw action.

Ramirez will be eased into a long-relief role, which gives the Angels some much-needed length in their bullpen, according to Ausmus.

“It feels like my first day in the league,” Ramirez said with a smile. “It's just different. It's not the same. Over there, I was working on my stuff. Up here I have to compete."

Heaney nearing bullpen session

Left-hander Andrew Heaney, on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation, played catch before Tuesday’s game and could throw off a mound for the first time as soon as Friday. Heaney, out since July 16, will need to make at least one start in a rehab assignment before returning. So he’s at least a couple of weeks away from being activated.

“We want to make sure the shoulder is good,” Ausmus said.

Upton held out of the lineup

Left fielder Justin Upton has been scuffling at the plate of late, going 1-for-18 over his five games and hitting .190 in 17 games in July, and was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday in an effort to clear his head.

Ausmus managed Upton in Detroit from 2016-17, and noted that he can be a bit streaky, so they discussed what they can do to get Upton going again. There’s a chance Upton could even be held out again Wednesday, giving him a break coupled with Thursday’s off-day.

“Talked with him last night,” Ausmus said. “Went through a similar stretch in Detroit. Having gone through it, taking a step back taking the approach as a hitter and not dealing with in game at-bats can somehow speed the process. Go through his work today, talk during the postgame and see if we want it more than one day.”