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 to short on a temporary basis.

Now Manager Terry Collins has another option, one that was on display Monday afternoon when Andy Sheets played his first game as an Angel after being acquired with minor league outfielder Gus Kennedy from San Diego Monday morning 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 in 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 will likely 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 will have to make the difficult decision at third between Glaus and Dave Hollins.

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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Nevin, who grew up in Orange County and starred at Cal State Fullerton, said the toughest part about leaving Anaheim was severing ties with Angel bench Coach Joe Maddon.

“Catching is going to be so beneficial for my career, and he was the one who taught me everything,” said Nevin, who caught four innings and doubled against his former team Monday. “There was a lot I could have said to him, but I’m not real good at those things, so we just hugged each other and said goodbye.”

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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 Monday and will be re-examined today. DiSarcina, who will open the season on the disabled list, 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.