Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Taking Stock, Catching Up
Oct 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar (2) celebrates his run with teammates against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Thanks for the memories Erick, you will be missed
The Los Angeles Angels’ new general manager, Billy Eppler, made a bold first move Thursday in regards to restructuring the Angels team that missed the playoffs by one game in 2015.
Eppler traded the second longest tenured Angel, shortstop Erick Aybar, to the Atlanta Braves along with top pitching prospects Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis. In exchange, the Angels received Gold Glove shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who was also the Wilson 2015 Defensive Player of the Year, as well as getting the Braves’ No. 25 prospect, catcher Jose Briceno.
It seems like it was a steep price to pay to get Simmons, especially with the Braves in salary dump mode. They also have a top prospect at shortstop waiting in the wings named Jose Peraza, who is listed as the No. 22 prospect in the Braves farm system. That being said, the Angels might have been able to get Simmons without giving up both their top pitching prospects.
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More than just stats, Erick Aybar was a leader both on and off the field, especially to many of the Hispanic players like Cuban shortstop prospect Roberto Baldoquin.
“We have an unbelievable friendship. Erick took me under his wing when I got here,” Baldoquin said through an interpreter. “We talk almost every day and he helps me get through the daily grind by giving me a lot of advice on how to get through things. He has been great.”
Simmons comes with an impressive resume and will more than make up for the loss of Aybar defensively. However, he will have to go a long way to be the kind of leader Aybar was for the club. Aybar was a class act all-around and a fan favorite, which will be missed greatly.
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But as has been said many times in recent years, baseball is a business and that’s what this move was for Eppler and the Los Angeles Angels. Having to part with top prospects such as Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis is the part that will be hard to stomach for Angels fans, but we will just have to wait and see how this move pans out over the next few years.