Los Angeles Angels: Andrelton Simmons injury another blow in rough start to season

By Tim Haberin |

April 4, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons (2) throws to first to complete an out in the fourth inning against Chicago Cubs at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

A poor beginning to the 2016 season got even worse for the Los Angeles Angels with the loss of shortstop Andrelton Simmons. Is time running out for the Halos to turn things around?

The Los Angeles Angels‘ disappointing start to the season became a little more grim on Monday, as the team announced that shortstop Andrelton Simmons would be placed on the disabled list with a left thumb injury.

Simmons hurt the thumb while diving for a ground ball during the third inning of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was immediately removed from the field, and after an MRI yesterday the team announced that he had a “full thickness tear of the ulnar collateral ligament of his left thumb.” The injury will require surgery and is expected to sideline him for at least two months.

The 26-year-old shortstop had been struggling at the plate so far, slashing .219/.246/.281 with a home run and eight RBIs. His current .526 OPS would be by far the lowest of his career. Simmons has never been much of an offensive force, though: he owns a career .253/.301/.357 slash line, and despite belting 17 homers in 2013, he has only managed a total of 12 since.

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Fans will know that Simmons’ true value lies in his glove, with which he is arguably the best defensive player in Major League Baseball. He took home Gold Glove awards in 2013 and 2014 while a member of the Atlanta Braves. He has averaged 31.3 DRS (defensive runs saved) over the last three years, including a career-high 41 in 2013. He has already collected seven this season to go along with a 34.0 UZR/150.

The Halos acquired Simmons in a trade with the Braves during the offseason, sending Erick Aybar, Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis to Atlanta to nab the slick-fielding shortstop. The team likely hoped that the 26-year-old Simmons would make some further strides at the plate in Los Angeles while providing elite defense.

While Simmons’ offense should be difficult to replace or even improve upon while he’s out of commission, the Angels will definitely miss his glove. Infielder Cliff Pennington is expected to take over at shortstop in the interim. The 31-year-old utility man is batting .175/.267/.325 with a home run and four RBIs in 47 plate appearances this season. However, he owns a decidedly better .244/.313/.344 career slash line.

The loss of Simmons is only the latest in a series of injuries to some of the Angels’ key players. Right-hander Garrett Richards, the leader of the club’s rotation, will miss the rest of the campaign with a torn elbow ligament. Starting pitchers C.J. Wilson and Andrew Heaney are also on the DL, along with closer Huston Street.

The barrage of injuries combined with a 13-18 record beg the question of whether the Halos can realistically be expected to salvage their season. They currently avoid the cellar of the AL West because the Houston Astros have been even worse at 13-20. Though their pitching has been fairly solid with an overall 3.83 ERA, good for 10th in MLB, they are also just 24th with 110 runs scored.

As currently constructed, the Angels could struggle this year and beyond. Keep in mind, an aging Albert Pujols (career-low .631 OPS at the moment) is still under contract through 2021. Some have even floated the idea of trading superstar Mike Trout. That won’t happen, but the fact that it’s even been brought up lets you know how bad things have gotten.

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New general manager Billy Eppler certainly has his work cut out for him. The Andrelton Simmons injury is just the latest setback in a challenging first year of his tenure.

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