Gold Glove winning shortstop Andrelton Simmons is headed out west to join the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for pitchers Jose Briceno, Sean Newcomb, and Chris Ellis, veteran infielder Erick Aybar, and cash.
Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com was first to report the trade, with further details of the trade provided by Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports , Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com , and Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
#Braves trade Simmons to #Angels for Newcomb, Ellis, Aybar and about $3M
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 12, 2015
After nearly 24 hours of rumors surrounding the coveted shortstop’s new team likely being out west, the Angels end up as the unlikely beneficiary of Simmons’ services. The San Diego Padres were the team that was frequently mentioned as a destination for Simmons, but that obviously did not come to fruition.
All told, Simmons is expected to provide the Angels with a half decade of cost-efficient production. Originally signing a seven-year, $58 million extension with the Braves prior to the 2014 season — per ESPN — Simmons’ elite glove and above average bat were expected to be mainstays in Atlanta for years to come.
. @Angels land @Andrelton from @Braves for Aybar, top 2 prospects. Clubs haven’t confirmed: https://t.co/mi41jA5Xf8 pic.twitter.com/pNFPPdfXbu
— MLB (@MLB) November 13, 2015
However, after hitting .248 with a career-high 17 HR and 59 RBI, Simmons’ offensive numbers tanked in the two seasons after signing the extension. In 2014, he hit .244 with six HR and 49 RBI and in 2015, the Curacao native hit .265 with four HR and 44 RBI. But despite his offensive struggles, Simmons’ glove never faltered.
While he didn’t take home Gold Glove honors in 2015, Simmons is still regarded by many as the best defender in the game. Simmons was recognized for his defensive work in 2013-14 however, winning the Gold Glove, Fielding Bible, and Rawlings Platinum Glove for his defense in 2013. He followed that by winning the Gold Glove and Fielding Bible again in 2014.
To put Simmons’ defensive prowess in perspective, the Angels tweeted out the following stat on the 26-year-old’s 2013 campaign.
Welcome to the #Angels family, @Andrelton ! More from Simmons’ Resume: pic.twitter.com/gtv71LyDUk
— Angels (@Angels) November 13, 2015
As for the Braves, they acquired a bevy of talent, all of which are expected to contribute in some capacity. Longtime Angels’ veteran Erick Aybar is heading out east after spending the first decade of his career with the Angels. At 31 years old, Aybar can likely continue as a solid contributor as he is a career .276 hitter with a Gold Glove (2011) on his resume.
But as mentioned by MLB Trade Rumors, Aybar will likely be a mere placeholder for Atlanta as they have young shortstop Ozhaino Albies waiting in the wings. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports spoke to a Braves scout about Albies, and the feeling is that the 18-year-old still has at least a few years away.
Scout on #Braves SS prospect Albies: At least 2-3 yrs away. Not defender Simmons is, doesn’t have his arm, but s-h with speed. Exciting.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 13, 2015
Aybar is a free agent after 2016, but his salary will be just $6 million for the Braves, thanks to the cash the Angels are sending to Atlanta. So he should make for an above average stopgap if nothing else.
The Braves also acquire Sean Newcomb, a 22-year-old southpaw who is considered as one of baseball’s top pitching prospects. After the 2014 season, Baseball America rated Newcomb as the No.2 prospect in the Angels’ organization. In 2015, MLB.com rated Newcomb as the 19th best prospect in all of baseball.
While he showed erratic control across three minor-league levels in 2015 (5.0 BB/9), Newcomb accumulated a record of 9-3 with a 2.38 ERA in 27 minor-league starts.
Not as highly touted as Newcomb, righty Chris Ellis enjoyed a solid season in the minors in 2015, going a combined 11-9 with a 3.90 ERA in 140-and-two-thirds innings between High-A and Double-A. Ellis was rated as the Angels’ 5th best prospect after 2014, per Baseball America.
Catcher Jose Briceno is the final piece headed to the Braves. The 23-year-old isn’t much of a prospect, as he only hit .183 with four HR and 20 RBI in High-A in 2015. A former member of the Colorado Rockies organization, Briceno was rated as high as the 18th best prospect in the Rockies’ organization after 2014, per Baseball America.
Simmons will likely upgrade the Angels’ defense up in the middle of the diamond for years to come as he tries to recapture some of his old offensive spark from two years ago. Meanwhile, the Braves shed some salary while stockpiling more pitching prospects for the future.
[Image by (Scott Cunningham)/Getty Images]
