Angels infielder Gio Urshela was placed on the injured list this week due to a pelvic fracture and now it seems like the issue might prevent him from returning again this year. Manager Phil Nevin relayed the news to reporters, including Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times. Urshela won’t need surgery but he will need to be shut down for six weeks and then will require at least six weeks of ramp-up time after that. Given that timeline, it will be very difficult for him to make it back to the Angels this year.
Urshela, 31, was acquired in an offseason trade from the Twins, with pitching prospect Alejandro Hidalgo headed the other way. Urshela was coming off a solid season in Minnesota, hitting .285/.338/.429 for a wRC+ of 119 while providing solid third base defense. However, he was set to make a projected $9.2MM via arbitration in his final season before free agency, so the Twins flipped him to Anaheim. The latter club and Urshela eventually went to a hearing with the Halos emerging victorious, leading to the infielder making $8.4MM this year instead of his desired figure of $10MM.
The addition was a sensible one for the Angels, as they have often fielded a roster with plenty of star power but a lack of depth and complementary pieces. They opted to try to fill multiple holes by bringing in solid and versatile players like Urshela, Brandon Drury and Hunter Renfroe. Overall, the plan has worked quite well as the club is having their best season in years, currently 41-34 and currently in possession of a playoff spot. But they will now have to proceed without Urshela in the mix.
Zach Neto and Anthony Rendon have each landed on the injured list in recent days as well. That forced the Halos to turn to the likes of Andrew Velazquez, Michael Stefanic and Kevin Padlo in the short term. Upgrading the infield via trade next month seems a possibility. The Halos figure to be aggressive to capitalize on a chance to make the postseason in Shohei Ohtani’s final season of club control. Los Angeles enters play Wednesday at 41-34, tied with the Astros for the final Wild Card spot in the American League.
From Urshela’s perspective, it’s a brutally timed injury. He’ll likely close his platform year with a modest .299/.329/.374 showing in 62 games. While the projected timeline suggests he’s likely to have a more or less typical offseason, he’ll hit the open market coming off an injury-shortened year.
Next offseason’s free agent infield class appears very thin. Matt Chapman tops the group, but there aren’t many other productive regulars trending towards free agency. Jeimer Candelario is having a decent season in Washington, while Whit Merrifield is playing fairly well for the Blue Jays but entering his age-35 campaign. Amed Rosario is probably the top shortstop option, but he carries a .229/.303/.346 line in 65 contests.
All from a misstep and tripping over first base. Unlucky.
The larger bases. Thank you, Manfred.
The White Sox could run a seminar in tripping over 1b. Jimenez, Robert and Madrigal in his final season with the Sox, all suffered long-term injuries after tripping over 1b. Since manfred has already made a mockery of the game, he should use a flat version of 1b to stop players from falling over it.
You are blaming Manfred for that…. Oh brother.
I also stubbed my toe on in my coffee table and drank too much whiskey today. Thank you, Manfred.
There’s no stopping it – Andrew Velazquez must always be the Angels shortstop.
Paranormal activity….continues
We’ll miss him. He was almost a guaranteed hit with runners in scoring position.
He was hitting 229/259/313 with RISP.
As I mentioned earlier, I doubt people are even looking at the data.
A broken pelvis? Yeah, that’s certainly not a minor injury.
The Angels consistently lead the league in fluke injuries
Not a fluke if they’re consistent.
I watched it happen and was thinking a knee injury at the time. Never saw someone fracture their pelvis running before. Heal quickly!
What will his deal look like next year?
I think 1-2 years at $12.5M AAV.
2 years/$20M w/ a $5M buyout on a $17.5M option of some kind?
i see that as a likely ceiling
Brutal…just another one bites the dust. Hope he has a healthy and speedy recovery. Sure wouldn’t mind him coming back next season since we can’t seem to stay healthy. Fingers crossed on the next injury updates
Chaim Bloom line 1.
arroyo, mondesi, even kike could all be assets on the angels
How would Mondesi be an asset? He’s not very good defensively and has been injured. His offensive profile doesn’t suggest “hit the ground running” when he’s back. Low walk, high k rate, and heavily relied on power/speed.
He is not a starter for a playoff team and is basically just a salary dump at this point.
Feel bad for the dude. Baseball injuries are weird.
jose iglesias !!!!
Please sign a ML Player. Take a shot I’m sure he is cheap.
No. Can’t hit.
The Angels should think about asking the Mets for Eduardo Escobar. He can play third until Rendon or someone else comes back, and he can move elsewhere when they do. He’a behind Brett Baty now at third at CitiField. He switch-hits and is valuable off the bench. The Mets would probably settle for a pitcher in return. Not necessarily a MLB pitcher, and not necessarily a top prospect, but someone with some potential or someone who needs a change of scenery. .
Not!
Escobar is a poor fielding 3B very slow with poor mobility.
Not much of a hitter either especially from the LH side.
Not worth it aim higher!
@Robrock30: june 25 update. Mets pay down Escobar’s salary and get 2 starting pitchers from Angels AA team Rocket City. Coleman Crow, #17 prospect of Angels, and Landon Marceaux.
Angels went for versatility and streaky Escobar has some pop and has been hitting well since Mets promoted Baty. Crow had been injured this season on Il since May but has been throwing bullpens. Mets try to restock farm.
EasternLeagueVeteran,
Good call by you. Angels are desperate for a 3B who was underutilized by the flailing Mets who need SP prospects. Could work out well for both teams. We will see.
I have watched alot of Escobar with the Mets and I don’t like his game but that is true of most of the Mets currently.
Given what the Mets are paying for SP these days, the irony is thick that they need SP prospects. Nothing so sweet as watching the Mets shell out gazillions for high-priced FAs, then flounder in 4th in the NL East. The only thing sweeter would be seeing the Nats overtake them.
But boy, that Angels INF saga this year is a doozy. I guess if they finally end up with Rendon, Fletcher, Escobar and Drury (3B to 1B, or some version thereof, plus fill-ins), they might be good to go.
Escobar’s arrival ignited the Angels to win 25-1 last night over the Rockies. Pretty good line 4 runs scored 2 hits in 4 ABs with an RBI and a walk. Great start for Escobar.
Done!
The Angels should think about asking the Mets for Eduardo Escobar. He can play third until Rendon or someone else comes back, and he can move elsewhere when they do. He’a behind Brett Baty now at third at CitiField. He switch-hits and is valuable off the bench. The Mets would probably settle for a pitcher in return. Not necessarily a MLB pitcher, and not necessarily a top prospect, but someone with some potential or someone who needs a change of scenery.
I Feel bad for Urshela, but it’s not a huge deal… He was basically a singles hitter with no speed or power who played adequate defense.
This is only relevant because of Rendon and Walsh’s injuries and poor play. And Rengifo poor play.
The players they have need to play like major league players… they haven’t.
Urshela adequate defense, that’s harsh, he can pick it at the corners. Hope he’s back soon!! Angels need him
Urshela wasn’t great, but he wasn’t horrible either. The Angels have put a lot of horrible around Trout and Ohtani in recent years. Urshela was still an asset to the team. With Rendon, Neto, and Urshela, the bottom of the lineup is eerily similar to last year’s bottom of the lineup, which is not a good thing. His versatility allowed the Angels to give a variety of players a day off without having to place a below replacement level player as Angels have been prone to do.
He was basically a substandard starter. And based on past years, that was fine. But he was pretty much on pace to be a substandard regular.
Fangraphs had his WAR at .4. A regular needs to have a WAR of at least 2. Any less than that, and you have a hole.
Osuarez24.
Fangraphs has Urshela as a slightly below average defensive player and outs above average rates him exactly average. Zero outs above average.
I’m not sure why writing calling him adequate is harsh?
He was better than you imply.
You mean he was better than the data implies.
Escobar vs. RHP which is most of the time .180 BA .222 OBP .502 OPS stay far away
By the way Brett Baty .665 OPS .240 BA with 4 HRs not really cutting it either
The Mets have underperformed all year, all the way thru their lineup. Cohen should take the time to evaluate who is on the team that has any value. They have to climb over 6 other teams just to make the last wildcard spot. They need a Cincinnati-like run to get there, and I cant see it happening with their pitching staff.
So they should get used to being sellers at the deadline, and start making calls today. Find someone else’s need and make an offer.
Next year. The Yankees will not cut nor be able to trade Josh Donaldson. So Matt Chapman will have to wait.
Tough break for Urshela and for the Angels. Does anyone know what play he broke his pelvis on?
Why does that matter?
Really sucks. He’s been so good to have with Rendon always hurt. And when Rendon does play Urshela kept Rengifo off the field.
“He sucks less” isn’t a great endorsement. At this point it’s accurate, but it’s still not much of an endorsement.
Urshela was having a solid season. Tough break
On what planet is a .4 fWAR “solid”?
It’s only solid because Rengifo, Rendon and Walsh have been worse.
Candelario should be available double machine he a free agent next year Chapman and candelario tuff free agent
KC should trade matt duffy to LA
Gio seems like a good dude and he’s a solid player. I’m feel bad that he broke his weiner region. That sounds painful as hell.
Wiener schnitzeled it Would seem . Yikes
Really bummed out as he seems like a righteous dude. Also the cat we picked up at the rescue was named Ursula so we’ve been rooting fir the lad
Matt Chapman will sign with the Yankees so that’s that.
They should talk to the Yankees about DJLM. I think the Yankees would have to eat some money but it would clear space for one of the youngsters like Cabrera or Peraza.