Aug. 7: Simmons has been granted his unconditional launch, per Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.
Aug. 6: The Cubs designated shortstop Andrelton Simmons for task at the moment, the membership introduced. The transfer got here shortly after he was activated from the 10-day IL. He had been out since mid-July with a proper shoulder pressure.
Simmons by no means actually obtained off the bottom in Chicago after signing a one-year, $4MM cope with the Cubs within the offseason. He struggled with shoulder soreness from the jump and had logged solely 85 plate appearances on the season. In that small pattern, he logged a meager .173/.244/.187 batting line and notched solely a single extra-base hit. In his absence, Nico Hoerner has dealt with a lot of the innings at shortstop, logging a 107 wRC+ whereas taking part in stable protection, rendering the veteran surplus to necessities for a non-contending workforce.
Whereas Simmons has been spoken of as probably the greatest defensive shortstops within the recreation since his 2012 debut, his offensive manufacturing — he sports activities a profession 86 wRC+ — has fallen off a cliff since leaving the Angels after the 2020 season. In roughly a full season of motion (536 PAs), he’s produced at a .216/.277/.261 clip, good for a wRC+ of solely 51.
Nonetheless, offered his shoulder doesn’t show an ongoing concern, Simmons might nonetheless catch on with a contender as a high-end defensive possibility, although seemingly not till after he’s cleared waivers. He’s received 4 gold gloves and completed second (to Carlos Correa) within the Fielding Bible’s 2021 defensive rankings. In reality, since 2013, he’s completed decrease than third solely as soon as and received the award for six consecutive seasons (2013-2018). Superior metrics again up Simmons’ continued defensive worth; per Fangraphs, Simmons has accrued 19 DRS (defensive runs saved) between 2021 and 2022 and a prodigious 201 for his profession.
In components of 11 seasons with the Braves, Angels, Twins, and Cubs, Simmons owns a profession .263/.312/.366 triple-slash. Although he’ll enter 2023 at 33 years outdated, Simba will seemingly draw no less than some curiosity within the offseason ought to he want to proceed taking part in, if maybe as a non-roster invitee. No matter the place his profession goes from right here, although, his glovework will stay the stuff of legend in Atlanta and Orange County.
