The Angels moved quickly to fill a void at shortstop Tuesday, acquiring triple-A infielder Brendan Ryan from the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later or cash.
Starting shortstop Andrelton Simmons suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb while making a backhand diving stop of a grounder on Sunday and will undergo surgery that will sideline him for at least two months.
Utility infielder Cliff Pennington is expected to get most of the starts at shortstop in Simmons’ absence, but the right-handed-hitting Ryan, 34, gives the Angels a slick-fielding veteran who can back up the switch-hitting Pennington or split time with him.