Respected GM Dave Dombrowski is available; are Angels interested?

The Angels have an opening for a general manager. Dave Dombrowski, one of the finest general managers of his generation, parted ways with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.

Within hours, Dombrowski already had been linked to the Angels, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers. That list could grow as the end of the season approaches and owners ponder changes among team executives.

One person familiar with the Angels’ thinking said he considered it unlikely that Dombrowski would land in Anaheim.

However, owner Arte Moreno courted Andrew Friedman — then the Tampa Bay Rays’ general manager and now the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations — before hiring Jerry Dipoto as the Angels’ general manager four years ago.

Angels President John Carpino declined to comment on Dombrowski but said the search for a full-time general manager is in its initial stages.

“We have been reviewing all possible scenarios,” Carpino said. “We will continue to have internal discussions as the process continues to evolve.”

Bill Stoneman, the Angels’ interim general manager, once worked with Dombrowski in the front office of the Montreal Expos, although Stoneman said reports that he hired Dombrowski were incorrect. Stoneman said he had no advance notice of Dombrowski’s departure.

“I talked to him at the trade deadline [last week],” Stoneman said. “That was all about business.”

Stoneman laughed at the question of whether he would recommend Dombrowski for the job if Moreno or Carpino asked about him. Stoneman politely said he would provide that answer to Moreno or Carpino, not to a newspaper.

Comeback kid in 2016

Three notable pitchers — Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins, Matt Harvey of the New York Mets and Patrick Corbin of the Arizona Diamondbacks — returned this season after rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery.

Tyler Skaggs has noticed. Fernandez, Harvey and Corbin returned from 14 to 18 months after surgery.

Skaggs, the Angels’ promising left-hander, could push to return this September — 13 months after his surgery. But the Angels do not believe the risk would be worth it, and Skaggs said he agrees.

“I’d love to pitch,” he said. “But, looking at the results of guys that came back in 13 or 14 months versus 18 months, I’ll take 18 months.

“I’ve done my due diligence. I’m only 24 years old. I’ve got a long career ahead of me. I want to be as healthy as I can.”

The Angels could have eight potential starters next season — Skaggs, Garrett Richards, Matt Shoemaker, Hector Santiago, Andrew Heaney, Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and Nick Tropeano.

The Angels had hoped to trade Wilson this winter — and recover at least part of his $20-million salary next season for use on bats. However, Wilson has said he expects to undergo season-ending surgery to remove bone chips from his pitching elbow, so it is unlikely any team would trade for him without seeing whether he is healthy and effective in spring training.

Weaver update

Weaver lasted 5 2/3 innings in a rehabilitation start for Class A Inland Empire on Tuesday, giving up three runs — two earned — and three hits. Weaver could rejoin the Angels’ rotation as soon as Sunday.

Weaver made two errors and gave up two home runs — one to 24-year-old outfielder Donavan Tate, whom the San Diego Padres selected with the third overall pick of the 2009 draft. With the 25th pick in that draft, the Angels selected Mike Trout.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Twitter: @BillShaikin