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5 reasons the Braves shouldn’t have traded Andrelton Simmons

By John Buhler

Sep 15, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons (19) reacts after hitting a walk off single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Blue Jays 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 15, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons (19) reacts after hitting a walk off single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Blue Jays 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar (2) follows through on his solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Angels won 11-10. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar (2) follows through on his solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Angels won 11-10. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports /

5. This Puts Immense Pressure on Aybar and Company

Erick Aybar has had a productive ten years as a member of the Angels organization. He is a career .276 hitter, won a Gold Glove in 2011, and made an All-Star team in 2014. From the looks of it, he seems like a highly productive player entering his 11th big league season.

The problem that Erick Aybar and the two minor league prospects (Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis) is that they will always be associated with the Simmons deal. Since Simmons was such a popular player in Atlanta, any sign of struggle, especially from Aybar, and Braves Country will turn on him in an instant.

Traditionally, the Atlanta Braves get their best players like most successful teams do: through the Minor League system. Simmons was one of the last great crops from early 2010’s harvest. He came up perhaps a bit too early after only spending a month at AA Mississippi because his glove work was that impressive as a 22-year-old.

Since Atlanta hasn’t advanced in the postseason since 2001, after making an unreal 10 straight NLCS appearances (1991-2001), fans are often skeptical of some of the trades the front office makes in general. The Adam Wainwright Deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Mark Teixeira deal with the Texas Rangers, the many trades president of baseball operations John Hart made last year.

Essentially, Aybar is not only about to play for his first new team in over a decade with the Atlanta Braves, but he won’t be greeted with open arms as he is seen as the replacement of the immensely popular Simmons. He’s already starting out behind the eight ball. Maybe Newcomb or Ellis can evade that pressure, unless the Atlanta Braves organization continue to bring up that they were part of the Simmons deal with the Angels.

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