Los Angeles Angels: Is Andrelton Simmons a Bonafide Star?
By Phil Akre
Though the move for Andrelton Simmons was once viewed as a heist for the Atlanta Braves, his recent play has proven the deal was worth it for the Los Angeles Angels.
When the Atlanta Braves traded shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels, it was viewed as a logical move. The team was in full sell-mode. It brought back Sean Newcomb, who at the time was the Los Angeles Angels top pitching prospect. The lefty was the team’s first-round pick from in the 2014 MLB draft.
For the Angels, the move made sense, but it was still a head-scratcher.
By giving up Newcomb, the team surrendered its top prospect and left the farm with little talent. It also gave up Erick Aybar, who hit .274 with 75 extra-base hits from 2014 to 2015.
Los Angeles Angels
All of that was for the talented, but somehow underachieving Simmons. Many considered the Braves instant winners.
However, three years later it appears Simmons has unlocked his potential and justified the move.
In 2018, he’s hit .345/.409/.511 with a .920 OPS. Additionally, he’s produced a 152 OPS+. His power numbers won’t ‘wow’ anyone (3 HR, 23 RBI’s), but they’re definitely improved.
He’s already on pace to surpass his RBI averages from 2014-2016 when he averaged 45 runs driven in. It appears Simmons is building off his 2017 season, when he drove in 69 RBI’s, a career high.
His home run total probably won’t jump too much, but his contact skills have become vital in a lineup that features sluggers like Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Shohei Ohtani.
Simmons’ is also a reason that the Angels’ lineup ranks fifth in the game in runs scored. His .345 average is a major reason that the team’s combined average is sixth-best in the game (.261). A lot of fans might not know it, but Simmons finished eighth in AL Most Valuable Player voting last season.
In his time with the Braves, he was noted for his elite defensive skills and a below average bat. Luckily for the Angels’, he’s picked up both.
His career fielding percentage sits at a ridiculous .982%. In 2018, he’s at .980%. So, yeah, he’s solid in the field.
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While he may not be the prototypical five-tool shortstop that can hit for power, he gets it done where it matters most. He’s become a weapon at the plate and remained a force at one of the games hungriest positions for athleticism.