The Atlanta Braves are truly open to trading anybody on their roster, evident on Thursday as they moved shortstop Andrelton Simmons and catcher Jose Briceno to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for shortstop Erick Aybar, right-hander Chris Ellis, left-hander Sean Newcomb, and roughly $3 million. MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez broke the deal, with the New York Post’s Joel Sherman adding details on who was involved.
Source: Andrelton Simmons has been traded to the Angels. #Braves
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) November 12, 2015
On the surface, this move is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Simmons is the best fielder in the league. As ESPN’s Buster Olney pointed out, since 2012 he leads the league in defensive runs saved by a fairly large margin.
@RogerSalazar MLB leaders in Defensive Runs Saved since 2012, ALL positions: 1. Simmons, 112 2. Heyward, 89 3. Gordon, 74 4. Arenado, 64.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 13, 2015
The two-time Gold Glove winner, and this year’s 2015 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year, has slowly become a competent hitter as well. With the Braves in 2015, the 26-year-old hit .265 with a .321 OBP. But, his bat isn’t what makes him such a special player. He’s simply amazing fielding at shortstop.
He’s coming to the Angels with plenty of control, only being owed $53 million over the next five seasons.
Briceno is essentially a non-factor in the trade after hitting .183 in 88 games at A+ at 23-years-old.
The biggest part of the Braves package is obviously Newcomb. The 15th overall pick in the 2014 draft was ranked as the 70th best prospect by Baseball America entering last season. The 6’5″ lefty has a power arm and can hit the high 90’s with his fastball. Last year split between three levels, Newcomb went 9-3 with a 2.38 ERA. He struck out an impressive 168 batters in 136 innings, but also issued 76 walks.
Here's more from an AL evaluator on Sean Newcomb, the top prospect the Braves got: "Big arm, wild as hell." #'s: https://t.co/2ODY3L0WnL
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 12, 2015
Ellis is a less regarded prospect, but the 23-year-old will add another solid arm to the Braves system. The righty went 11-9 split between A+ and AA, with a 3.90 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.
Aybar is a steady shortstop who the Braves will likely quickly flip for more future assets. The 31-year-old hit .270 with three home runs and 44 RBI in 2015. He’s an excellent fielder in his own right, although nowhere near the fielder Simmons is. He’ll hit free agency at the end of 2016.
It’s not a horrible trade, but considering the Braves gave up a young, controllable – dare I say, elite shortstop, you have to think they could have held on for a bit more.
