Twins reportedly sign shortstop Andrelton Simmons to one-year deal

ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 30: Andrelton Simmons #2 of the Los Angeles Angels waits to bat in the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 30, 2020 in Anaheim, California. The Seattle Mariners are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

Andrelton Simmons is reportedly joining the Twins on a one-year deal.

The big MLB news of the day was the fact there will be no 2021 Hall of Fame class. In more uplifting news, some players are finding new teams.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan sent out a tweet Tuesday night that will have Minnesota Twins fans excited. Shorstop Andrelton Simmons is heading to Minnesota to assume the role of starting shortstop on a one-year deal that doesn’t break the bank.

Andrelton Simmons will be the Twins' starting shortstop, with Jorge Polanco moving to second base and Luis Arraez still expected to get plenty of at-bats in a super-utility role. But Simmons and Byron Buxton up the middle? Twins pitchers should enjoy that defense this season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 27, 2021

Twins win the Simmons sweepstakes

This is a nice gain for the Twins. As Passan points out, Simmons is expected to be the starter with Jorge Polanco moving to second base.

Simmons is a four-time Gold Glove winner and was a 6.3-WAR player in 2018. He has slowed down a bit as of late, but only has a combined 133 games played between 2019-2020. The Twins are clearly expecting him to bounce back.

Simmons was a big name on the shortstop market this offseason, as the Philadelphia Phillies were just one team with reported interest.

The Twins agree to a deal with SS Andrelton Simmons for one year and $10.5 million, per source. Simmons had been a Phillies target, but now Didi Gregorius could be back in play there. First on Simmons: @JeffPassan
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 27, 2021

His offensive numbers don’t jump off the page, but defense is clearly being valued in this deal to the tune of $10.5 million. He is a career .269/.317/.379 batter who has shown some flashes of power in the past. Simmons finished eighth in American League MVP voting in 2017 thanks to his stellar defense. But he also had 38 doubles, 19 stolen bases, and 69 RBIs.

The Twins finished the 2020 season in familiar fashion. They made it to the postseason, only to get swept. The team hasn’t even won a postseason game since 2004. Fans can at least rest easy knowing the team is actively trying to compete in an AL Central division going through some transition.

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Simmons is off the market and teams must now turn elsewhere fast if they want to add a shortstop before Spring Training begins.

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