Angels acquire Gio Urshela from the Twins for Alejandro Hidalgo (DFA Diaz)

[ScottM]

I like Gio as a player but where?

Also, THIS IS WHY YOU INVEST IN INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING. Hidalgo, who was signed 2.5 years ago as a 16 year old, now brings back a solid proven big league bat. 

[Angelsjunky]

Part of this is probably due to the Rendon Experiment.

A nice carryover until 2024 Rookie of the Year, Kevin Maitan, takes over at 3B.

Right, @Second Base?

[T.G.]

1 minute ago, Warfarin said:

what is (likely) an inevitable Rendon injury.

[Second Base]

1 minute ago, Angelsjunky said:

Part of this is probably due to the Rendon Experiment.

A nice carryover until 2024 Rookie of the Year, Kevin Maitan, takes over at 3B.

Right, @Second Base?

Certain enough to get it tattooed on your body. 

[Warfarin]

Just now, T.G. said:

Hey man, just you know, the recent health history is .. not great, lol.

[Angelsjunky]

1 minute ago, Second Base said:

Urshela won't need to play SS.  Rengifo and Fletcher are both far superior defenders than Urshela and can man SS.  My guess is Urshela splits his time among all four infield positions.  But I think we all should understand the risks at putting him somewhere where he isn't very good defensively.  The shift is banned, and the Angels just signed Anderson.  Defenders in the infield have to be considerably better than they ever were before, and if they aren't, this puts contact pitchers at a considerable disadvantage. 

I'm "meh" on this trade.  Hidalgo is decent but no great loss, and Urshela.....well he's undisciplined, but he makes contact and can keep outfielders honest.  Defensively, he's ok at 3B, and I'm guessing he'd be "meh" at 2B.  At 1B, backing up Walsh, he's probably going to be about how I'd expect.  Good enough.  But shortstop?  No, I don't envision him playing there much at all. 

I can live with "meh" at 2B if he hits with a 110 or better wRC+, plus fills in as necessary at 3B, SS, and 1B. 

Anyhow, I think we'll see Rengifo, Fletcher, and Urshela rotate through 2B/SS. 

[Capital_Dave]

Can he pitch?

[T.G.]

1 minute ago, Warfarin said:

Hey man, just you know, the recent health history is .. not great, lol.

[Second Base]

2 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

I can live with "meh" at 2B if he hits with a 110 or better wRC+, plus fills in as necessary at 3B, SS, and 1B. 

Anyhow, I think we'll see Rengifo, Fletcher, and Urshela rotate through 2B/SS. 

You can't predict ball.  But if I had to guess, I'd say most of his playing time will be at 3B.  

[ScottM]

With our exquisite coaching staff, Gio matches his 2019 133 OPS+ next year right?

[Warfarin]

3 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

I can live with "meh" at 2B if he hits with a 110 or better wRC+, plus fills in as necessary at 3B, SS, and 1B. 

Anyhow, I think we'll see Rengifo, Fletcher, and Urshela rotate through 2B/SS. 

Urshela has only played about 23 big league innings at 2B in his career.  I am not sure how much he will play there. 

[Warfarin]

Something to consider - Walsh has historically performed more poorly against LHP than RHP.  

Assuming everyone is healthy, maybe we will see a "preferred" configuration of Rendon starting at 1B and Urshela at 3B, against LHP?

[mmc]

 

[Vlad27Trout27]

How does he look at 2nd? I remembered him playing 2nd for the Yanks. Keep Rengifo at Ss, Gio at 2nd? 

[Angel Oracle]

22 minutes ago, totdprods said:

I don’t think he’s nearly durable enough to try there anymore.

Especially at age 33 in 2023

[rafibomb]

6 minutes ago, ScottSted said:

With our exquisite coaching staff, Gio matches his 2019 133 OPS+ next year right?

Our new hitting coach was the hitting coach for Gio during the 2019 season. 

[Second Base]

So we can all feel better about this....

 

[ScottM]

Just now, rafibomb said:

Our new hitting coach was the hitting coach for Gio during the 2019 season. 

oh snap

[Angel Oracle]

1 hour ago, rafibomb said:

Our new hitting coach was the hitting coach for Gio during the 2019 season. 

A year putting up an .889 OPS

Edited November 18, 2022 by Angel Oracle

[jsnpritchett]

9 minutes ago, Vlad27Trout27 said:

How does he look at 2nd? I remembered him playing 2nd for the Yanks. Keep Rengifo at Ss, Gio at 2nd? 

He has only played 10 games at 2B in his professional career and only 5 at the major league level.

[Warfarin]

1 minute ago, jsnpritchett said:

He has only played 10 games at 2B in his professional career and only 5 at the major league level.

Yeah.  I think we'll primarily see him occupy 3B/SS.  He hasn't really played many other positions asides from that, and at his age, it would be surprising to see him suddenly start playing more 2B/SS than he has otherwise.

[Pancake Bear]

He's played a little bit of 1B in the minors and overseas. Wonder if this is a platoon vs LHP at 1B, someone to help ease Rendon back without having to use him everyday since he hasn't played much the last two years, and an extra option at SS (don't see him playing much 2B since he's barely played there at any level). Basically seems like 3B/1B depth that can play SS. 

[mmc]

 

[mmc]

 

[mmc]