Braves trade Simmons to Angels for Aybar, prospects

The Los Angeles Angels added one of the game's premier defenders to their roster Thursday evening, acquiring shortstop Andrelton Simmons in a trade with the Atlanta Braves.

In exchange for Simmons and minor-league catcher Jose Briceno, the Braves will receive veteran shortstop Erick Aybar and pitching prospects Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash.

"Andrelton provides us up the middle foundation at a premium position for years to come," Angels general manager Billy Eppler said in a statement. "To know we have a player with Andrelton's talents, drive, and competitiveness at such a young age signed through 2020 is a vital step in adding to our core group."

Though Simmons, a two-time Gold Glove award winner, signed a seven-year, $58-million extension with Atlanta less than two years ago, the club had reportedly grown weary of his lagging offensive production. The 26-year-old ranks fifth among shortstops with 9.7 WAR since becoming an everyday player three seasons ago, but owns just a .639 OPS (80 OPS+) over the last two years, failing to replicate the offensive numbers he posted in 2013.

Since his auspicious 2013 campaign, in fact, Simmons has provided precisely as much value as Aybar, a former All-Star who has spent his entire career with the Angels and will be a free agent after the upcoming season.

"It was a blessing to spend so many years with the Angels," Aybar told MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. "I learned the game with them. Now, just keep moving forward."

Encouraging progress from minor-league shortstop Ozhaino Albies, meanwhile, further compelled the Braves to make the deal, wherein they not only replaced Simmons with a capable veteran but also landed the Angels' top two pitching prospects.

"This is very tough trade for us," said Braves general manager John Coppolella. "Very painful trade. We did not want to trade Andrelton Simmons, but we felt we got so much talent back that we could not pass up this season."

Selected 15th overall in the 2014 draft, Newcomb made a meteoric rise through the Angels' minor-league system this season, crafting a 2.38 ERA with a 29.2 percent strikeout rate across three different levels, including a seven-start stint with Double-A Arkansas. Ellis, a 23-year-old University of Mississippi product, enjoyed a solid 2015 campaign, as well, posting a 3.90 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP over 140 2/3 innings while also finishing the year in Arkansas.

While the deal further depleted the Angels' already thin farm system, Simmons will immediately improve a defense that finished ninth in the American League in defensive runs saved in 2015. And, much to his delight, he'll get to play for a team built to compete in the present, rather than one building for the future.

"I'm happy to be part of an organization that is trying to win right now," Simmons told Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.