Angels find potential Andrelton Simmons replacement in trade with Orioles

The Angels are ready to move on from shortstop Andrelton Simmons.

It’s good to be a shortstop in the busy 2020 offseason. The likes of Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa could be moved on the trade market, which has upped the expected valued of several free agents at the position, including one Andrelton Simmons. It now appears he’s out of the Angels price range.

Simmons has a career slash line of .269/.317/.379 with 67 career home runs and 406 RBI. At 31 years old, his offensive production is likely tailing off, but not enough to avoid one more payday.

While preparing for the eventual loss of Simmons, the Angels are already acting on their backup plan. On Wednesday, new Angels GM Perry Minasian traded for Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jose Iglesias.

Iglesias is one of the more underrated shortstops in the major leagues

Iglesias last made an All-Star team in 2015 with the Detroit Tigers, but in the shortened 2020 season he hit a stunning .373 with 23 RBIs. The 30-year-old hasn’t flashed much power during his time in the majors, but he’s among the best defenders at his position in MLB and hits for average.

The Orioles reached a pre-arbitration agreement with Iglesias for just over $1 million.

“It was not a difficult decision,” Orioles GM Mike Elias said at the time, per the Baltimore Sun. “José was tremendous for us in a very limited period of time, but he’s got a track record dating back beyond that. I think he’s a perfect fit for what we need right now. I think if he had not had the quad strain that he had, I think he would’ve been in the MVP conversation last year for the 60-game season had he played a lot of shortstop.”

While it was deemed a bargain at the time, the Orioles had other plans and opted to ship Iglesias out west.

The return for Iglesias is unknown at this time.