Aug. 7: Simmons has been granted his unconditional release, per Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.
Aug. 6: The Cubs designated shortstop Andrelton Simmons for assignment today, the club announced. The move came shortly after he was activated from the 10-day IL. He had been out since mid-July with a right shoulder strain.
Simmons never really got off the ground in Chicago after signing a one-year, $4MM deal with the Cubs in the offseason. He struggled with shoulder soreness from the jump and had logged only 85 plate appearances on the season. In that small sample, he logged a meager .173/.244/.187 batting line and notched only a single extra-base hit. In his absence, Nico Hoerner has handled most of the innings at shortstop, logging a 107 wRC+ while playing solid defense, rendering the veteran surplus to requirements for a non-contending team.
While Simmons has been spoken of as one of the best defensive shortstops in the game since his 2012 debut, his offensive production — he sports a career 86 wRC+ — has fallen off a cliff since leaving the Angels after the 2020 season. In roughly a full season of action (536 PAs), he’s produced at a .216/.277/.261 clip, good for a wRC+ of only 51.
Still, provided his shoulder doesn’t prove an ongoing issue, Simmons could still catch on with a contender as a high-end defensive option, though likely not until after he’s cleared waivers. He’s won four gold gloves and finished second (to Carlos Correa) in the Fielding Bible’s 2021 defensive rankings. In fact, since 2013, he’s finished lower than third only once and won the award for six consecutive seasons (2013-2018). Advanced metrics back up Simmons’ continued defensive value; per Fangraphs, Simmons has accumulated 19 DRS (defensive runs saved) between 2021 and 2022 and a prodigious 201 for his career.
In parts of 11 seasons with the Braves, Angels, Twins, and Cubs, Simmons owns a career .263/.312/.366 triple-slash. Though he’ll enter 2023 at 33 years old, Simba will likely draw at least some interest in the offseason should he wish to continue playing, if perhaps as a non-roster invitee. Regardless of where his career goes from here, though, his glovework will remain the stuff of legend in Atlanta and Orange County.
Someone will pick him up
Unlikely, until he clears waivers. Anyone who claims him would owe him the prorated portion of 4 million.
So like $1.5MM? Eh. If you need a defensive SS that urgently it’s hardly a lot of money to worry about.
White Sox sure could use someone who plays decent defensively at SS. And offensively, except for power, is he much worse than Grandal- who they will still have next year at $18M.
Well, Jonathon Villar has already been picked up twice since leaving the Cubs which goes to show you that even disasters travel well. Somebody will snag Simmons and a new fan base will cringe every time he has to throw a ball across an infield and watch to see if his shoulder is still attached after the play.
Those two were a painful disaster to watch at Wrigley this season. The perfect definition of losing lottery tickets. Just brutal…..defensively and offensively.
Villar on both counts but Simmons gloved well.
He’ll be a free agent within 48 hours. If any team wants him, they will most likely wait for him to clear waivers as there won’t be a big demand for his services.
Well that didn’t work out so well…
Predictably. Anyone who watched him last year knew he was in a free fall.
It wasn’t the plan, but it worked out in that Hoerner has had a ton of reps there and has really done well. Ironically, Simmons was signed as insurance if Hoerner got injured again.
If the Yankees claim him I’m going to look for the needle. Please don’t!
YOU’RE A CLOWN!
Lowest IQ- Nah pal you are! You can have him ass-hat!
NO U!
Needle dafuq did i just read
Another bad move by the Cubs front office
4mm isn’t that much
Gotta go w 9mm minimum for stopping power.
Cubs front office has been in free fall since November 2016
Comon man, Simmons is a 4x gd glove winner and his ba in 2020 was .294. He signed for 4 million because he and the Cubs both understood his skills had deminished. Well worth taking a chance on him due to Hoerner’s history of injuries. However, I do agree Epstein and McLeod were overrated and the farm system was ranked 28th. Since Hoyer quit being Epstein’s gopher he has performed brilliantly and most impressive is the front office personnel he hired.
After the fielding the last few days, wouldn’t mind him playing for the White Sox… his fielding is still quite solid.
if you’re a white sox fan, no doubt you saw him play 19 games against your team last year….feel free to reverse your Stanley. he literally destroyed the Twins season about one week in.
One of the best defensive shortstops in his prime. Angels really won the trade with Atlanta they got him for Sean Newcomb.
It’s rare when you can say the Angels won a trade.
Jim Fregosi for Nolan Ryan was ok.
Thank you for the irrelevant information from decades ago
Why is it irrelevant? Talking trade..talking Angels.. WWII was long ago,yet still relevant
The Braves traded Newcomb to the Cubs for Jesse Chavez who they traded to the Angels for their closer Raisel Iglesias. Don’t forget the Braves got ex-Angel great Erick Aybar.
The Braves overpaid because they took on Iglesias’s contract but maybe it will work out for them like it did with Melancon.
Yes no argument about him being one of the best defensive shortstops in his prime, but we’re long past that, now.
He finished 2nd in defensive rankings in 2021 out of all short stops so his defense is still elite; he just can’t hit a lick anymore.
On DL twice with bum shoulder. Cannot hit or throw. As you already know there is no overnight healing process for a shoulder injury.
I love it when Christian Arroyo is playing right field. Game plan: hit the ball to Arroyo in right field!
The guy he finished second to needed a trashcan to win first
@Hippyripper- by all means cheating to win a World Series is fun, and funny right? Your a dope!
Mario Mendoza, please call your office……
Simmons defense at short was stellar this year, just look at his drs and oaa. His defense at second left a lot to be desired.
Not every shortstop can transition well to second base, the turns are different, the reads are different and you’re looking at a guy who played how many years at short? Addison Russell was a prime example as well, he was a stellar defensive short stop and looked completely lost at second. Simmons looked very similar
He should take the rest of the season off to rehab that shoulder.
He should take the rest of the season off, and call it a career.
This move leads me to wonder what song is more likely to be sung along to, Oasis’s Wonderwall or Bush’s Glycerine?
if i could downvote i would because you deserve a downvote for just mentioning oasis easily one of the worst bands of the 90’s. tbh tool’s rosseta stoned is more appropriate. mostly because he is more likely shating the bed
GIANTS
About time, what an awful player he’s become. Sad to see.
Who wants to bet the Angels will bring back Simmons for either:
A: He used to be a semi-superstar for the club. Increased Ticket Sales!
B: He’s an improvement over Velazquez/Wade (Wait, Velazquez has .8 WAR?)
C: Both
D: Next year as an infield coach/coordinator at some level.
Charlie, is that you?
A day after selecting Sean Newcomb no less lol
He’s extremely close to the 10 year mark. Hoping someone picks him up.
Check that, he already qualified earlier this season.
Simmons is a great defender but he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.
Listening to the Cubs broadcast, they are now playing the Morel Mushroom at SS. Looks like he is getting a tryout. Maybe Jack Hoerner,with a thumb in the pie, will be traded. OHH! I forgot his first name is Nicco
In all seriousness, He will be picked up for at least next year. Too fine of a track record. I hope him having health, happiness, and given a chance to prove himself again! Lastly, I am telling the cubs to quit dinking with Hoerner and Madrigal. Leave them alone and let them develop. Put Morel in the OF. he looks like a great young player!
A alot of the off-season free agent signings we’re either 1) if they play decent they can flip them for an asset, ( i.e. Givens, Robertson) 2) if they weren’t able to get an asset and they played well, they can be a bridge until the guys in the minors are ready(i.e. Ortega, Wisdom). But the problem is that a few like Simmons and Villar played way below expectations and they were just taking up roster space.
Are the Cubs going to try and keep Contras.the all-star catcher?
Money solves a lot of ills, but will Contreras want to stay on a rebuilding team that is 2-3 years out from even seeing .500? He is going to get a big contract wherever he goes or stays this offseason. Even if he does stay, how will his skills be at 33 or 34 years old when should be a better team. He seems like he wants to be loyal, but he should take an offer from a contending team.
Big mistake to not deal him at the deadline. Hoyer overplayed his hand.
Nice!
The Cubs have to be the worst run organization in MLB.
Not even close. Look at the Angels.
They’re pretty close. When the owner has zero to do with the Team. Other than the title of owner. Joe Ricketts has zero to do with his own team
Just a couple of years ago he was a seen as huge catch. Things change quickly in the sports world.
Too good defensively to be left stranded
This guy was the best defensive SS I’ve ever seen with the Angels. He covered so much ground on the field and threw perfect missiles to 1B. Plus, he was a decent hitter. The Angels have struggled mightily to replace him at SS with Jose Iglesias (last season) and literally nobody this season (Velazquez, Wade, et al). It’s hard to imagine how much Simmons has declined as a player since leaving the Angels. Wish him well.
Go get him Braves. Bring him home on a minor league deal
Some team must need a pure defensive replacement for the infield. Simmons had 2.3 dWAR last year. If I was the Twins I’d prefer him to Tim Beckham, for instance
“Simmons is old! He should’ve been out of the game years ago but he can’t gi home because he hates his wife”
Fletcher Reede
White Sox are already getting crap production from 2B. If he’s willing to move there, he’d at least improve their deplorable defense.