Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons is on schedule to become one of baseball’s most prominent free agents during the upcoming offseason. The Angels could extend Simmons before he reaches the open market, but it doesn’t seem talks have occurred between the team and his agent.
“Maybe my agent heard something, but not me,” Simmons said of potential negotiations with the Angels, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
The Angels acquired Simmons from the Braves in a trade that sent Sean Newcomb to Atlanta prior to the 2016 season, but Los Angeles has underachieved since then. In fact, the team hasn’t clinched a single playoff berth with Simmons in its uniform, and that’s unlikely to change this year with the Angels holding a 20-28 record.
The Angels’ troubles haven’t come as a result of Simmons, a defensive whiz who has typically provided enough offense during his run with them to prove quite valuable. As a member of the Angels, the 31-year-old Simmons has slashed .280/.327/.394 with 36 home runs, 51 stolen bases and 15.3 fWAR in 2,255 plate appearances.
The problem for Simmons is that injuries, especially to his left ankle, have held him back over the past couple seasons. Simmons only played in 103 of a possible 162 regular-season games a year ago and sat out for a large portion of August 2020 on account of injury concerns, which could have a negative impact on his earning power on his next deal.
If Simmons does become a free agent for the first time in the next couple months, the Angels will have to decide whether to issue him a qualifying offer before he’s able to reach the open market. He would be an interesting case in that regard.
One of the greatest fielders I have ever seen… when he can stay healthy. Im rooting for the guy.
Just hit him with the QO and then go sign Didi.
That would be really stupid, hes worth nowhere near that amount.
I thought the QO was cancelled this offseason as part of the mid-year negotiations.
Wasn’t it just that it wasn’t going to increase in value this offseason?
correct red
If they offer Simmons a QO I would think he would probably take it. Idk it’s a tough call from both perspectives. Because if he rejects it… he’ll have draft compensation hanging over his head — he can probably still secure a deal worth more than the $17M (or so a QO will come with) but probably no where near that amount on an annual basis. But should he accept the offer he pushes back his FA by a year and thus his first year on a new deal would be at age 33 not 32… which could be a really significant difference for teams weighing signing him to a multi-year contract. Really a tough call for both player and team — he’s one of those guys that’s like RIGHT, exactly, at the point where both the team and the player could make a case for either option.
He isn’t worth a QO, but l would sign him to a 3 year extension at 8 or 9 million dollars a year.
big fan of his, awesome guy to chat with at spring training ..but not worth whatever we pay him. WE NEED ARMS! end of discussion Fletcher will be great over at short and can find a 2b to fill in quite easily . get arms pleaassseeee
Teheran not cutting it for you guys?
Teheran getting rocked was the easiest prediction of my life. Saw that coming a mile away. Just wish koamalu or w.e his name is would show his face.
Hahaha Koamalu. He has a couple different usernames, but the MO is always the same. He’s definitely gonna have to hold the L on Julio Teheran.
“It’s not Gerrit Cole, but it’s 180-190 innings of 3.6.-3.90 ERA starter for $9 million on a one year deal. Last season his 119 ERA+ says Teheran was 19% better than league average or a #2-#3 starter. You don’t have much baseball knowledge if you think it’s a terrible signing.”-Koamalu
Turns out it was whatever % of 9 mill for less than 100 inninhs and an era well over 4.
Terrible signing. If you thought this was going to be a good signing you don’t have much baseball knowledge.
Check out his comments on these threads!
mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/joc-pederson-to-angels-…
mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/mlbpa-investigation-bra…
It appears AA made the right move letting Teheran go.
Any Braves fan with even a little bit of baseball sense knee that before it ever happened.
Exactly. Braves fans have argued with people left and right on here about Teheran. We were all pretty much in agreement that the last couple of years his stuff has really declined and he was very inconsistent and that he was really going to struggle this season. And still posters are making excuses and can’t acknowledge that we called it.
Soooo, you’re saying he’s primed for the Yankees?
Twas a good one. mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/angels-to-sign-julio-te…
Wow, that’s a lot of comments. It’s unbelievable how bad he’s been. So many home runs.
I hate it for Julio. He was always a favorite of mine for the Braves.
He did have a problem with the HR’s towards the end in Atlanta as well.
Wish it would work out better for him.
The Angels starting rotation actually hasn’t been as bad as we may have all thought. Bundy and Canning are assured of rotation spots next season. I would be surprised if Teheran didn’t get a spot as well. Ya, he’s looked bad but then I’ve seen to many starters getting blown up to believe all the people who have predicted his downfall for the last 5 years or so and are now finally right. Anyone who predicts ANY player is going to crash and burn will always EVENTUALLY be right.
The bullpen has been the big problem but I still can’t see the Angels not going for Bauer and/or Stroman. Shortstop just doesn’t seem like their biggest need as they can fill the position with Fletcher though a big part of Fletcher’s value is in his flexibility.
So what do you think, Angel fans? Hoping for Bauer/Hendricks under the Christmas tree?
Heaney been the second best pitcher. Angels have a solid 3
Salary good post. Our SP has been decent. Need to shore up the BP. Maybe a go to LH or 2. And resign Simba and leave Fletch at 2B.
I really hate bullpens. They are such a fickle mistress. Resigning Simba probably is the best move. Do you think the Angels have the financial space to resign Simmons and still get quality arms for the pen and maybe another starter that is close to a front liner?
Personally I think the angels should dump uptons contract by trading him with two of their top 10 prospects but, that would be difficult because upton has the no trade clause. They need to reinforce the bullpen personally I would try to get some of the A’s relievers such as petit (former angel), soria, or Hendriks. They need lefties also.They should go for Bauer obviously. If not maybe Stroman but I’m not the biggest fan of his I’d try to go cheaper with walker or ray. As for Simmons I would keep him he hits decent against lefties has the best glove in the game I’d sign him for a three year deal 30-35 million unless the angels plan to go big on a shortstop when Alberts contract is up
This just needs to be repeated about once a week: Upton signed the deal with the Angels in large part because he got the NTC with the contract (the Tigers deal he walked away from guaranteed him more $$$ to 2022 but no NTC). His wife and kids live in PHX and he wanted to be close to home—aside from the Dbacks (been there), Padres and Dodgers, there aren’t any other options.
There is no “dumping Upton”, “trading Upton”, “moving Upton”…he’s not going anywhere. He played long and well to leverage that guarantee in his current contract. For better or worse, he is with the Angels through 2023.
IIRC his Tigers deal was for more AAV but didn’t include the 2022 season while his current deal does and the current deal also includes a full NTC while his Tigers deal only had a limited NTC.
Angels probably would have been better off calling his bluff on the opt-out.
There’s a difference between saying every season someone is going to be bad and noticing a complete loss of ability and saying alright, this guy is done, let’s not resigning him.
The signs were obviously there.
Except this season it was true? Just not all the seasons before it because THIS time it happened? Con artists use that trick and call themselves seers and prophets. Then there are all the pitchers that have gotten blown up but yet Teheran is separate from all of them? Really convenient, right?
Your “signs” were the same, regurgitated arguments that were used several years in a row and are finally right this time. You think 1 out of 5 predictions being right is a good track record?
Just looking at box scores from their schedule so far, they’re only a good bullpen away from contending. Their pen has blown a lot of winnable games. Their offense has shown they can come back from just about any deficit, and can walk all over opposing teams when the Angels get a good outing from their starters. The way the Angels roster is set up, they’re basically a team that is built on offense and would have to win by having good enough starting pitching, and a really good bullpen. Fix the latter and they’ll probably be back in it next season.
This the OSJ
This guy would take a QO. He is not worth it. I would not gamble with a QO.
There is only so much money to go around after Trout, Rendon, Upton and Pujols. The Angels need pitching and can replace Simmons with an inexpensive, controllable option in Fletcher. My recommendation is Fletcher to SS and savings from Simmons go toward a pitcher such as Bauer.
Signing free agent pitching isn’t that easy. There is really only 1 starting pitcher who will be a free agent this off-season who is a real difference maker. That is Bauer. He will cost $30-$40 million on a 1 year contract. Can the Angels afford that? Remember almost every team in mlb is dying for starting pitching. For any high quality starter the Angels will have to win a bidding war. Stroman, Tanaka, Walker, Minor, Ray? There is going to be serious competition for all of them.
It isn’t that bad. 2021 is the final year from Pujols, so his $30M will be gone in 2022, while Upton’s balloon payment season in 2022 is his last hurrah ($28M that year, which is really a $5M bump over 2021). Trout and Rendon will be around for years, of course, but the budget isn’t as paralyzed as it might seem. Rendon’s age is more of a deal than Trout’s, so the Angels need to win while they have prime Rendon more than prime Trout.
I say go all out on the bullpen. Bot only is their offense scoring a lot of runs, they’re starting to get production from their youngest players like Jared Walsh and Taylor Ward. They’re not flashy and none of their young players are going to take the league by storm right out of the gates, but if that youth is at least starting to blossom as depth, they’ll be fine offensively, and can focus entirely on their pitching. Maybe a starting pitcher, but I’d go all in on the bullpen.
angels absolutely extend him for 3+1 or 3+2.
They can’t just wave a magic wand and extend whoever they want.
Do you know how much money they got rid of during the trade deadline
Do you know how much they still own Trout, Rendon, Pujols, and Upton? They need all the money they can get just to fill out a decent pitching staff.
So what do you think they should do make Barreto the second baseman lol getting rid of simba makes them worse
I think they should sign a cheap, veteran shortstop in order to save money for pitching.
Crazy to think he’s just now becoming a free agent. Very underpaid his career so far… hope he gets himself a healthy pay day… he deserves it
Exactly, @bravesfan.
$57 mil just simply doesn’t go as far as it used to…
Uuuuh… Cincinnati??
This is probably a terrible winter to hit free agency hoping to cash in a big contract. There is zero chance Simmons could get a bigger contract than the QO next season. If the Angels are ok with giving him that on a basically make good deal than why not but if thats more than they are comfortable with then they shouldn’t give him a QO
Think it’s fairly certain they QO him, otherwise there was no reason not to trade him for something at the deadline.
Jo Adell is overmatched
I hope we keep Simmons, especially after losing LaStella for a guy who is now out the rest of the season.
Rendon/Simmons/Fletcher/Walsh – That’s a championship infield.
We need a pitching staff to match it. I don’t think we should sacrifice one for the other. We need to spend the money for both to win now.
Been an Angels fan since 1989. Arte is content with putting out the Mike Trout slugger show. It draws the fans to the ballpark and he makes his money, no investment in pitching needed. Its sickening that hes reduced this team to this, what I like to call “Baseball Entertainment”, with no plan for contending.