Urshela glad to be Angels' Swiss Army knife
Although Gio Urshela has played primarily third base throughout his career, he said he's prepared to move around with the Angels.
“I've been playing a lot of positions the last couple years,” Urshela said on Monday, three days after the Angels acquired him in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. “I think it's going to be fun for me playing whenever they need me. I'll be playing shortstop, second base, first base, third base.”
Urshela said he's only played outfield once, but he's prepared to do that, too.
The Angels have Anthony Rendon to play third. Rendon has missed most of the past two years with injuries. If he gets hurt again in 2023, obviously Urshela would be able to step in and play third, a position where he's been for 548 of his 600 big league games.
If Rendon is healthy, Urshela will move around the diamond, primarily at the different infield spots, general manager Perry Minasian
said last week. Minasian said he envisions Urshela as an everyday player, even if his position isn't set.
Although Urshela's major league experience has been limited at those other spots, he said he's worked out regularly at different positions for the past few years. He said every winter he works out at shortstop.
Urshela said he was “excited” for the opportunity to join the Angels and be reunited with manager Phil Nevin, who was the Yankees' third base coach when Urshela played in New York.
“Phil is a great guy,” Urshela said. “He called me right away when I got traded to the Angels. I've known him for the last five years. He's a good guy for me.”
Urshela said joining the Angels also allows him to follow in the footsteps of one of his favorite players. Orlando Cabrera, a fellow Colombian, played for the Angels from 2005-07, when Urshela was 14-16 years old.
“He was my role model when I was a little kid, him and (Colombian) Edgar Renteria,” Urshela said. ”I always wanted to be like Orlando or Edgar
Renteria.”
Urshela also said he is planning to play for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic. Colombia is in the same pool as the United States, which plays its firstround games March 11-15 in Phoenix.
Rodriguez, Weaver on Hall of Fame ballot
Francisco Rodriguez, who set the single-season saves record with the Angels, and Jered Weaver, whose 150 victories with the Angels ranks second in franchise history, are among the five former Angels who are making their debuts on the Hall of Fame ballot this year.
First baseman Mike Napoli and right-handers John Lackey and Huston Street are also among the 14 players who are new to the ballot, which was released on Monday. Voters have until Dec. 31 to mail in their ballots, and the results will be announced on Jan. 24.
Outfielders Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter are among the 14 holdovers on the ballot. Last year Abreu was named on 8.6% of the ballots and Hunter on 5.3%.
Last year, slugger David Ortiz was the only player to earn the 75% required for induction. Third baseman Scott Rolen (63.2%), first baseman Todd Helton (52.0%) and left-hander Billy Wagner (51.0%) earned the most votes among the players returning to the ballot.
Of the new players, Rodriguez is among those with the strongest case to eventually make it to Cooperstown.
Rodriguez amassed 437 saves over his 16-year career, starting with the Angels and also pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles. The three pitchers above him on the list are all in the Hall of Fame: Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601) and Lee Smith (478). Rodriguez set the record with 62 saves with the Angels in 2008.
Street, who finished his career with the Angels, had 324 saves.
Weaver went 150-98 with a 3.63 ERA in his career, including a no-hitter in 2012.
Here is the entire list of players on the ballot: Bobby Abreu, Bronson Arroyo, Carlos Beltrán, Mark Buehrle, Matt Cain, R.A. Dickey, Jacoby Ellsbury, Andre Ethier, J.J. Hardy, Todd Helton, Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent, John Lackey, Mike Napoli, Jhonny Peralta, Andy Pettitte, Manny Ramírez, Álex Rodríguez, Francisco Rodríguez, Scott Rolen, Jimmy Rollins, Gary Sheffield, Huston Street, Omar Vizquel, Billy Wagner, Jered Weaver, Jayson Werth.