The Cubs designated shortstop Andrelton Simmons for project Saturday, the club announced. 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 bought off the bottom in Chicago after signing a one-year, $4M 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.
Whereas Simmons has been spoken of as the most effective defensive shortstops within the sport 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, supplied his shoulder doesn’t show an ongoing challenge, Simmons might nonetheless catch on with a contender as a high-end defensive choice, although possible not till after he’s cleared waivers. He’s gained 4 Gold Glove awards and completed second (to Carlos Correa) within the Fielding Bible’s 2021 defensive rankings. The truth is, since 2013, he’s completed decrease than third solely as soon as and gained 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. Though he’ll enter 2023 at 33 years previous, Simba will possible draw not 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.
