Braves trade Andrelton Simmons to Angels for Erick Aybar, prospects

The Braves have traded shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Angels, CBSSports Major League Baseball Insider Jon Heyman has confirmed. Scout on #Braves SS prospect Albies: At least 2-3 yrs away.

Before the trade happened, Simmons was just rumored to be a potential trade candidate with the Braves listening to offers from the NY Mets, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox, per CBS Sports.

The Atlanta Braves traded defensive wizard Andrelton Simmons, Minor League catcher Jose Briceno and cash to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Thursday in exchange for longtime Angels shortstop Erick Aybar and two pitching prospects.

Pierzynski, 38, was a rare bright spot for the Braves this past season. Essentially, the Atlanta Braves must have done the trade to get the pitching talent since Aybar is not exactly a game changer. Defensively, he was limitless in Atlanta. He’s been the game’s best defensive shortstop according to Ultimate Zone Rating. Compared to his early days in the majors, Simmons has become vulnerable against soft stuff and pitches thrown at his knees.

Simmons, by my advanced calculations, was damn near the only thing to be excited about watching the Braves play in 2016. And you wonder: Why not trade him as well?

Angels center fielder Mike Trout picked up his fourth Silver Slugger Award in four seasons Thursday, earning the honor after a season in which he hit a career-high 41 home runs and had an American League-best.

But that’s not really the point, because you can explain that to anyone and they will either concede that your point is valid or argue that you’ve missed entirely, or possibly both. They got a big arm in Sean Newcomb.

The Houston Astros got it right when they dismantled their team in Braves-like fashion, going from 111 losses two years ago to a wild-card berth this season.

But get out of here with this, ‘I’m not supporting the team anymore, ‘ nonsense. Them going after an AL East proven pitcher is believable, and hey, getting the Yankees involved is never bad for business. It’s why, despite the lagging bat, Simmons rated as a 3- or 4-win player, depending on which version of WAR you prefer, in 2015.

Even if the Braves had no interest in trading Simmons to the Mets, the common theme over the previous year when the Mets have engaged teams in trade talks has been that the requested returns have elicited laughter from most. If they picked the right players.

Newcomb and Ellis just add to the stable of very good pitching prospects the Braves have to go along with the likes of Touki Toussaint, Max Fried, Kolby Allard, Tyrell Jenkins, and Lucas Sims, the latter coming off an outstanding Arizona Fall League. Sometimes, you get Pierce Brosnan-a odd placeholder who’s fine to have but ultimately forgettable. Probably because I have been trying to make a nickname of my own catch on for years, and only a small percentage of friends ever fell in line. “Andrelton provides us up-the-middle foundation at a premium position for years to come”. Finally, the trade of Craig Kimbrel (perhaps the most hard of all of the Atlanta Braves trades last offseason for fans) is justifiable in that shedding the albatross contract of Melvin Upton Jr. afforded the club with much-needed financial flexibility. And are you confident either of them will be around for several more years?

Chris Ellis, 23, is one of those who is not considered a large portion to the deal as he has had his fair share of struggles having pitched 140 2/3 innings of 3.90 ERA ball. Amusing thing is they had a lot of talent to begin with.