A Venezuelan-born veteran whose role could be drastically reduced this season joined the Angels for spring-training workouts Saturday, only this player wasn't disgruntled.
Days after outfielder Bobby Abreu issued his play-me-or-trade-me demand, utility infielder Maicer Izturis arrived with almost as much uncertainty but none of the bitterness as his countryman.
"I'm not a guy who worries about someone having to tell me from Day 1 what I'm going to be doing," Izturis, 31, said through an interpreter. "I come in with my mind open as to what the team needs, and the more I can contribute, the better."
Izturis contributed plenty last season, shedding his reputation for being injury prone by setting career highs in games (122), at-bats (449) and hits (124) and avoiding the disabled list. He batted .276 with five home runs and 38 runs batted in while playing solid defense at third base, shortstop and second.
But the versatile switch-hitter's playing time could get squeezed this season. Howie Kendrick, who signed a four-year, $33.5-million deal in the off-season, is entrenched at second base, and the Angels have a durable, Gold Glove-winner in shortstop in Erick Aybar.
Slugger Mark Trumbo, who played first base and led the team with 29 homers and 87 RBIs last season, is working out at third base, where the Angels hope he can play 40 to 50 games.
And Alberto Callaspo, who led the team with a .288 average and .366 on-base percentage and played a solid third base for most of last season, is back in camp.
There is value in the fact that Izturis is the only reserve who can play shortstop; if Aybar were injured, he is the best long-term option at the position.
But these aren't exactly the best circumstances for a player in his prime who can become a free agent when his three-year, $10-million contract expires after 2012.
"I can't look at it that way because I've been on teams before where guys are locked [into long-term deals], and I've ended up playing a lot," Izturis said. "I'm happy for Howie. I know about Trumbo's experiment. But as a potential free agent, my mentality is to put together the best year possible to make sure I'm helping the team out."
Izturis, who had a superb 2010 season (.300, eight homers, 65 RBIs, 74 runs), was flattered to hear his name pop up in trade rumors this winter — Colorado and Detroit were thought to have interest — and was intrigued by the possibility of starting elsewhere.
But unlike Abreu, he is not itching to leave.
"If they approached me in the middle of the season with [an offer for a contract extension], I'd like to stay," Izturis said. "No doubt, it does creep into your mind what could happen if you become a free agent and you could become an everyday player [somewhere else]. But I don't want to be distracted by that now."
No deal for Aybar
Aybar joined informal workouts for position players Saturday in good health and spirits but without the long-term contract he hoped to secure in the off-season.
The 28-year-old switch-hitter has not set any kind of deadline for negotiations, which began in early January. He avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $5.075-million contract for 2012, but the sides have been unable to reach agreement on a long-term deal.
Aybar, who hit .279 with 10 homers, 59 RBIs and 71 runs and won his first Gold Glove last season, is thought to be seeking a contract similar to Kendrick's. If no deal is reached, he could become a free agent after 2012.
"My agent told me to go to spring training, work real hard, and if something happens, he'll let me know," Aybar said. "I don't really know what's going on, but they're still talking. My focus now is on baseball. I want to win everything."
Short hops
Trumbo returned to practice Saturday after his Friday workout was cut short by a bad-hop grounder to the nose, which caused significant bleeding but no serious damage. He hit and played catch Saturday and will resume taking grounders Sunday. … Position players who are not yet in camp are scheduled to report Sunday and undergo physicals. The team's first full-squad workout is Monday, though Vernon Wells got a two-day jump by taking batting practice Saturday.
By Mike DiGiovanna
