The Angels announced on Monday that Simmons has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, which will probably put the premier defender on the shelf for at least two months.
Ryan was batting .263/.275/.333 for the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, but he is considered a world-class defender. The 34-year-old Ryan is a .234/.295/.315 hitter across nine Major League seasons, with his first four coming with the Cardinals.