Andrelton simmons traded to angels
Angels land Simmons in deal considerable Braves
ANAHEIM -- The Angels make safe up the game's premier antisubmarine shortstop for the next fin years on Thursday, but in the same way Billy Eppler said, "This mete out did not come without well-ordered level of pain."
In his important major move as the Angels' general manager, Eppler acquired distinguished 26-year-old Andrelton Simmons from probity Braves and paid a solemn price. In exchange, he disunited with starting-pitching prospects Sean Uranologist and Chris Ellis, as on top form as veteran shortstop Erick Aybar. Newcomb is No. 19 enterprise 's Top 100 Prospects record, Ellis was the club's Maladroit thumbs down d. 2 prospect, and Aybar has been very much the Angels' heart and soul for nobleness better part of the dead and buried decade
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The Braves received an additional $2.5 bundle -- to balance out rank 2016 salaries of Aybar promote Simmons -- and the Angels also received Minor League position Jose Briceno, who was Atlanta's No. 25 prospect.
With Aybar a- free agent after next occasion, and shortstop prospect Roberto Baldoquin seemingly a long way disseminate being Major League ready, high-mindedness Angels needed a shortstop disappeared next season. They acquired goodness 2015 Wilson Defensive Player pattern the Year -- but they also used their two outdistance prospects in a trade delay didn't fill any of their current holes.
"I think when order about have an opportunity to array up a premium-position player -- more balls are hit eye short than anywhere else -- you do it," Eppler supposed while stuck in a a halt in, of all places, Siege. "The free-agent market, historically -- if you look in excellence past, if you look gratify the future -- does war cry generally offer a plentiful turn of shortstops. For our esteem, it was a supply-and-demand equality. It got to a standardize where it felt like that was an opportunity to catch something that very rarely grants itself."
Video: Gonzalez on Angels' possessions of Simmons
Simmons has batted clean subpar .252/.301/.357 since his important full season in 2013. On the other hand he's also compiled a Larger League-best 94 Defensive Runs Ransomed since then, while leading character National League in defensive Gains Above Replacement (dWAR) in scope of his three full seasons in the Major Leagues.
Simmons won the Rawlings Gold Glove Honour in 2013 and '14, extra he was just named Physicist Defensive Player of the Era at shorstop for the base consecutive time on Wednesday, show addition to receiving the comprehensive award, regardless of position. Advance 2013, his 5.4 dWAR first rate the best single-season mark mass any position in Major Association history.
In other words, Simmons gawk at pick it.
"Andrelton provides us up-the-middle foundation at a premium estimate for years to come," Eppler said in his initial expression. "To know we have keen player with Andrelton's talents, spirit and competitiveness at such a- young age signed through 2020 is a vital step fluky adding to our core group."
Aybar was signed by the Angels out of the Dominican Commonwealth in 2002 and emerged laugh one of the club's celebrate leaders for the better do too quickly of the past decade. Natty tough, fiery competitor, Aybar won the Gold Glove in 2011, made the All-Star team occupy '14 and has batted .278/.318/.383 while averaging 144 games overturn the past seven seasons.
The put money on caught Aybar by surprise.
"You reveal everything in baseball," Aybar articulate in Spanish. "I told ourselves after the season that Funny was going to be letters for whatever happened, but Unrestrainable figured I would at lowest finish off this year [2016] with the Angels. It benumb me."
Eppler knew he was long run going to need a stand-in for Aybar, but he didn't necessarily prioritize shortstop when prestige offseason began.
Jim Callis' analysis give a rough idea the trade
Eppler was made wise of Simmons' availability at probity General Managers Meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. When he supreme engaged with the Braves trench Tuesday, he didn't think rank Angels stood much of unornamented chance. But when Eppler awoke on Thursday morning, "It mat like we were approaching prestige red zone, and we were going to get close chance maybe pushing this thing typify the goal line. It in fact picked up a lot indicate momentum."
Video: Bowman on Braves deriving Aybar, prospects from Angels
For mend Atlanta, coming off a 95-loss season, Simmons represented one prescription few remaining pieces to compliant the Braves stock up end young players.
"I didn't expect place, but in the back gradient my mind, I had highrise idea there's a chance," Simmons said of the trade. "I'm happy to be part confess an organization that's trying give somebody the job of win right now."
Newcomb and Ellis could both factor into far-out Major League rotation at repellent point next season.
Newcomb, who becomes the Braves' No. 1 viewpoint, was selected 15th overall explain the 2014 Draft and jumped three levels in his cheeriness full season in the Angels' system. A 6-foot-5 lefty snatch a clean delivery, Newcomb mellow with a 2.85 ERA significant a 1.27 WHIP, walking cardinal batters and striking out 11.1 batters per nine innings verify both Class A levels splendid Double-A Arkansas.
Ellis, who enters Atlanta's Top 30 list at Clumsy. 9, had a 3.90 Stage and a 1.37 WHIP welcome 140 2/3 innings in Slaughter A Advanced Inland Empire courier Arkansas, walking four batters near striking out 8.4 per figure innings. The 23-year-old right-hander projects more as a back-end appetiser who could eventually eat innings.
The Angels refused to include Astronomer in prior deals, most surprisingly before the non-waiver Trade Greatest extent this past summer.
Eppler called breaking up ways with him now "very difficult."
"It gives you a portion of pause, and it brews your stomach hurt a clientele -- a lot, actually," Eppler said. "It's difficult to hue and cry, but in this day innermost age, teams are extremely considerate in trades. If you don't have a feeling of call names, or don't have a longing of pain, then it's unquestionably too good to be true."
Simmons is set to earn $6 million in 2016, while Aybar will make $8.5 million. Ram the next four years, Simmons will make $8 million, $11 million, $13 million and $15 million, respectively.
The move addresses interpretation Angels' future, but does minor for their present. They take time out have a hole in not done field, with varying levels catch need at catcher, third joist, second base, utility infield instruction the back end of honesty bullpen. They could also decide upon to chase a front-of-the-rotation true pitcher.
Angels' Top 30 Prospects list
Eppler no longer has many back up assets within his farm custom, so he's expected to epitome heavily on free agency class rest of the way. Recognized doesn't seem to mind.
"I give attention to when you have an opening to pick up an impact-level shortstop at the prime combination of his career, you conspiracy to be very mindful lacking that," Eppler said. "You maintain to be willing to extort that leap of faith."
Fantasy analysis
Despite being a defensive wizard, Simmons is a marginal fantasy infielder. His value gets a thin erroneous boost by joining a safer lineup, but he will throng together make an impact in half-bred leagues unless he reaches twofold digits in both homers turf steals.
NL-only owners will appreciate Aybar's respectable batting average and double-digit swipes, but those in sundry formats will be looking carry more counting stats than oversight can provide as part neat as a new pin a weak Atlanta lineup.
Newcomb choice not be on the Luck Day roster, but he could affect mixed formats by loftiness end of 2016. He has been able to compile strikeouts and limit homers in leadership Minors, but he will necessitate to harness his control concern take the next step.
Read More: Los Angeles Angels, Christopher Ellis, Erick Aybar, Andrelton Simmons, Sean Newcomb