Erick Aybar (knee) is not in Wednesday's lineup. Aybar is getting the day off after he was hit in the right knee by a pitch during Tuesday's game. It's not considered serious and he should be back in there Thursday night. Maicer Izturis will start in his place at shortstop Wednesday while Alberto Callaspo plays third.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that Erick Aybar (knee) should play Wednesday. Aybar was hit in the right knee by a pitch during Tuesday's game, but it's not considered serious. "He'll be fine," said Scioscia. "We think he'll be OK tomorrow. It just hit him in a weird spot outside of his knee that got a little sore, a little numb, but he'll be OK." Aybar is batting just .230 over his first 41 games this season, but has hit safely in five straight games and six out of his last seven.

Erick Aybar left Tuesday's game against the Athletics after taking a pitch off his right knee. The bases were loaded when it happened, so Aybar earned an RBI. But he may need to sit out a few days due to swelling. Alberto Callaspo replaced him on the bases.

The struggling Erick Aybar went 4-for-4 with a triple, a double and a steal Saturday against the Padres. Aybar has six hits the last two games, taking his average from .189 to .221. He still may prove to be a modest asset in mixed leagues this year, though since it doesn't look like he'll recapture the leadoff spot, his upside isn't what it was.

Back in the leadoff spot after one day batting eighth, Erick Aybar went 2-for-5 on Saturday. Aybar has turned in three two-hit games in a row since signing his four-year contract, raising his average from .190 to .255.

Angels signed SS Erick Aybar to a four-year, $35 million contract extension. The deal was agreed to in principle on Wednesday, and is worth $1.5 million more than the four-year extension Howie Kendrick signed in January. It locks Aybar up through 2016, when he will be 32. Coming off his best all-around campaign, Aybar is off to a brutal start, batting just .190/.227/.262 to go along with two extra-base hits, four RBI and one steal. Like the rest of the Halos' lineup, however, he should soon get in gear.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com hears that the Angels have been proposing a four-year deal in the $35 million range to Erick Aybar. Aybar reportedly wants something in the range of five years and $50 million, but the Angels would like to stay closer to the four-year, $33.5 million extension they recently gave to second baseman Howie Kendrick. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that the two sides are close to an agreement and a deal could be announced as soon as Thursday.

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Angels and Erick Aybar are close to an agreement on a multi-year extension. In fact, the deal could be announced when Aybar receives his Gold Glove on Thursday. Exact terms aren't yet known, but we heard earlier this week that he was looking for a deal in the range of five years and $50 million. The impending free agent is batting just .171 (7-for-41) over his first 10 games this season, but he is coming off a career year in which he had a .279/.322/.421 batting line to go along with 10 home runs, 59 RBI and 30 stolen bases.

According to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, shortstop Erick Aybar "is believed to be looking for at least five years and $50 million" from the Angels. Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto told reporters this weekend that he believes progress is being made toward a long-term agreement, but Aybar's asking price sure sounds high. The 28-year-old hit 10 homers and stole 30 bases last year, but he carries a pedestrian .275/.318/.378 career slash line and may have to do some more proving this year in order to reach into the $50 million range. Aybar is currently slated to hit the free agent market five days after the 2012 World Series.

The Angels are "making progress" on an extension with Erick Aybar. "I'm very confident that we'll be able to get something done," GM Jerry Dipoto said Friday. "Erick wants to be here. It's just a matter of winding up a deal that works for both sides. (The negotiations) have been going on since December. It's never been contentious." Batting .211/.250/.316 through his first 20 plate appearances, Aybar is currently set to become a free agent five days after the World Series. There's been nothing to suggest he won't eventually re-up with the Halos.