With Sheets, No Shortage at Short

The closer the Angels get to the regular season, the more muddled their shortstop situation becomes.

A week ago, Jeff Huson was the leading candidate to replace the injured Gary DiSarcina. Over the weekend, it looked as if Troy Glaus would shift from third base to shortstop, at least temporarily.

Now Manager Terry Collins has another option. Andy Sheets played his first game as an Angel on Monday after being acquired with minor-league outfielder Gus Kennedy from the San Diego Padres for utility player Phil Nevin and minor-league pitcher Keith Volkman.

Sheets doubled and singled in five at-bats and made a superb play on Jim Leyritz’s eighth-inning grounder up the middle, throwing Leyritz out from shallow center field, in the Angels’ 9-0 victory over the Padres at Peoria, Ariz.

“That’s what we wanted to see, Andy playing defense,” Collins said. “Bruce [Bochy, Padre manager] told me this guy can play shortstop, and he showed it on that ball in the hole. He also brings us something we don’t have a lot of, and that’s speed.”

Collins said he probably will alternate Glaus and Sheets at shortstop for a few games before settling on a starter. If he goes with Sheets, the better defensive player, Collins then will have to choose between Glaus and Dave Hollins at third base.

Two potential shortstops were removed from the equation Monday. Luis Rivera, a 35-year-old bidding for a utility job, was released and announced his retirement, and utility infielder Andy Stankiewicz was given the option of playing for triple-A Edmonton or being released.

Huson, who seemed to be a lock to make the team last week, will now have to beat out first baseman Chris Pritchett for the final roster spot. His chances appear slim.

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Darin Erstad and Keith Luuloa each had three hits, and Mo Vaughn had two hits and three RBIs in Monday’s victory. Mike Magnante was impressive in two scoreless innings, striking out two, and Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Mike Holtz each added scoreless innings. . . . DiSarcina, sidelined all spring because of a broken bone in his left forearm, returned to Orange County and will be reexamined today. He will open the season on the disabled list but is hoping to have his cast removed so he can resume workouts.

Steve Sparks, scheduled to start Monday’s game, was scratched so he could fly to Orange County to be with his wife, Michele, who was due to deliver the couple’s third child.