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Andrelton Simmons of Atlanta Braves to Los Angeles Angels in trade for Erick Aybar
This could turn out to be a horrible trade for Angels if Newcomb becomes an All Star in the next 2 years.
This could turn out to be a horrible trade for Angels if Newcomb becomes an All Star in the next 2 years.
The Braves and Los Angeles Angels swapped shortstops Thursday in a five-player deal that includes three minor leaguers and cash.
The Braves shipped defensive wizard Andrelton Simmons to the Angels for Erick Aybar, who becomes a free agent after next season.
Atlanta also got top pitching prospects Sean Newcomb and Christopher Ellis. Newcomb, a 6-foot-5 left-hander, was rated the No. 25 prospect in baseball in ESPN Insider Keith Law's midseason Top 50 in July.
The other player going to the Angels is minor league catcher Jose Briceno.
The Braves are also getting $2.5 million for the difference in salaries between Aybar and Simmons.
Simmons is arguably the best defensive shortstop in baseball, offsetting his mediocre offensive skills. He won the Gold Glove in 2013 and 2014 and was named the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday.
Simmons, 26, hit .265 with four homers and 44 RBIs in 535 at-bats in 2015. He was beaten out by the Giants' Brandon Crawford for the NL Gold Glove at shortstop.
Simmons is signed through 2020 at salaries of $6 million, $8 million, $11 million, $13 million and $15 million.
Aybar is a 10-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Angels and has been their starting shortstop since 2008.
Aybar, an All-Star in 2014 and Gold Glove winner in 2011, hit .270 with three home runs and 44 RBIs in 2015.
The Braves had earlier been engaged with the Mets on a potential deal for Simmons, including as recently as Thursday morning at the GM meetings in Florida.
But Atlanta's asking price for Simmons -- one of the Mets' core-four young pitchers in Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard or Steven Matz -- was too steep.
The Braves shipped defensive wizard Andrelton Simmons to the Angels for Erick Aybar, who becomes a free agent after next season.
Atlanta also got top pitching prospects Sean Newcomb and Christopher Ellis. Newcomb, a 6-foot-5 left-hander, was rated the No. 25 prospect in baseball in ESPN Insider Keith Law's midseason Top 50 in July.
The other player going to the Angels is minor league catcher Jose Briceno.
The Braves are also getting $2.5 million for the difference in salaries between Aybar and Simmons.
Simmons is arguably the best defensive shortstop in baseball, offsetting his mediocre offensive skills. He won the Gold Glove in 2013 and 2014 and was named the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday.
Simmons, 26, hit .265 with four homers and 44 RBIs in 535 at-bats in 2015. He was beaten out by the Giants' Brandon Crawford for the NL Gold Glove at shortstop.
Simmons is signed through 2020 at salaries of $6 million, $8 million, $11 million, $13 million and $15 million.
Aybar is a 10-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Angels and has been their starting shortstop since 2008.
Aybar, an All-Star in 2014 and Gold Glove winner in 2011, hit .270 with three home runs and 44 RBIs in 2015.
The Braves had earlier been engaged with the Mets on a potential deal for Simmons, including as recently as Thursday morning at the GM meetings in Florida.
But Atlanta's asking price for Simmons -- one of the Mets' core-four young pitchers in Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard or Steven Matz -- was too steep.
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