The Atlanta Braves have traded slick-fielding shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels in a five-player swap that includes veteran shortstop Erick Aybar and a pair of pitching prospects, according to multiple reports. The Braves are rebuilding and it seemed as if Simmons was one of the guys who would be around for it. Instead, they’re prepared to deal him and send away a few of the best defense in the league to another city.
Advertisement
The real gain for the Braves is in the pitchers.
Jul 18, 2014; Angels 2014 first round draft pick Sean Newcomb attends the game against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Ellis has a similar mid-rotation projection, but is considered a longer shot to reach that potential given his thin frame, lower velocity and comparatively limited repertoire.
Newcomb went a combined 9-3 with an ERA of 2.38 and a whopping 168 strikeouts in 136 innings pitched.
The Braves shipped defensive wizard Andrelton Simmons to the Angels for Erick Aybar, who becomes a free agent after next season.
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) – A player agreed to accept a qualifying offer for the first time in the four-year history of the compensation system rather than remain a free agent, and Atlanta dealt shortstop Adrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday as the annual general managers’ meetings ended. If they believed it to be a sure thing that he would get much better, Hicks probably wouldn’t have been traded.
The manner in which Andrelton Simmons plays shortstop is unlike anybody else in Major League Baseball.
The Angels were seeking a long-term answer at shortstop.
Newcomb was rated the Angels’ No. 1 overall prospect at midseason by Baseball America, one spot ahead of Ellis.
“We’ve had a number of conversations with the Braves, as with other clubs, about a number of different players”, assistant general manager John Ricco said before the trade was announced.
For the Yankees, Hicks will fill the same role as Chris Young had past year, stepping into the lineup in one of the outfield spots against left-handed pitchers, against whom he had an. The additions of Newcomb and Ellis, granted at the high price of Simmons, continued that plan. Aybar could definitely do more with his bat than Simmons, but the difference in defensive prowess makes them leagues apart. He hit 17 home runs the following year, but that dropped to seven and then four last season. His career batting average is.256, his on-base percentage.304.
Advertisement
The Braves have made no secret that 2017 was the target year to be competitive; this recent trade just furthers that plan. He was named the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday, his spectacular work in the field offsetting his mediocre offensive skills.
