The Braves have traded shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Angels, CBSSports MLB Insider Jon Heyman has confirmed. Going to Atlanta will be shortstop Erick Aybar, minor-league right-hander Chris Ellis, and minor-league lefty Sean Newcomb. The Braves will also pick up $2.5 million in cash. The Angels will receive catching prospect Jose Briceno as well.Simmons, 26, is a two-time Gold Glove winner who's widely regarded as the best defensive shortstop in baseball. Across parts of four big-league seasons, he's batted .256/.304/.362 (85 OPS+). 
In 2013, Simmons tallied 17 home runs. He's signed to a seven-year, $58 million contract that runs through 2020.Briceno, 22, has a career OPS of .701 across parts of six minor-league seasons. This past season, he reached high Class A for the first time but struggled badly at the plate.As for Aybar, the 31-year-old shortstop has a career line of .276/.315/.378 in 4,799 plate appearances. This past season, he put up an OPS+ of 81. Aybar's under contract for 2016 at a salary of $8.5 million and eligible for free agency next offseason.Newcomb, 22, is probably the prize of the deal for the Braves. He was the 15th-overall pick in the 2014 draft and a consensus top-100 prospect coming into 2015. In 2015, Newcomb pitched to 2.38 ERA across three levels, including Double-A. In those 136 innings, he struck out 168, walked 76, and allowed five home runs.Ellis, a third-rounder also in 2014, has a 4.21 ERA and 2.08 K/BB in 35 appearances, 28 of which have been starts. Like Newcomb, Ellis reached the Double-A level in 2015.Dayn Perry/CBS Sports
In 2013, Simmons tallied 17 home runs. He's signed to a seven-year, $58 million contract that runs through 2020.Briceno, 22, has a career OPS of .701 across parts of six minor-league seasons. This past season, he reached high Class A for the first time but struggled badly at the plate.As for Aybar, the 31-year-old shortstop has a career line of .276/.315/.378 in 4,799 plate appearances. This past season, he put up an OPS+ of 81. Aybar's under contract for 2016 at a salary of $8.5 million and eligible for free agency next offseason.Newcomb, 22, is probably the prize of the deal for the Braves. He was the 15th-overall pick in the 2014 draft and a consensus top-100 prospect coming into 2015. In 2015, Newcomb pitched to 2.38 ERA across three levels, including Double-A. In those 136 innings, he struck out 168, walked 76, and allowed five home runs.Ellis, a third-rounder also in 2014, has a 4.21 ERA and 2.08 K/BB in 35 appearances, 28 of which have been starts. Like Newcomb, Ellis reached the Double-A level in 2015.Dayn Perry/CBS Sports
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
