The Braves on Thursday traded shortstop Andrelton Simmons and a minor leaguer to the Angels in exchange for three players and cash, reported to be $2.5 million.
Atlanta received shortstop Erick Aybar and minor league pitching prospects Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis. The Angels also acquired minor league catcher Jose Briceno in the deal, which was announced Thursday night
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MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez was first to report that Simmons was being traded.
Simmons, 26, hit .265 with four homers and 44 RBIs in 535 at-bats in 2015. His main strength is his defense. He was named Wilson's Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday, although he was beaten out for his third career Gold Glove by the Giants' Brandon Crawford earlier in the week.
Simmons is entering the third year of a seven-year, $58 million contract. He will make $6 million in 2016. Aybar will make $8.5 million in the final year of his contract. The cash going to the Braves will make up the difference.
The Braves continue to rebuild after finishing 65-97 and ahead of only the Reds and Phillies in the National League this past season. They also would like to move expensive veterans, such as spare outfielders Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn and, possibly, center fielder Cameron Maybin.
"Look, fans won’t like this trade because they all love Simmons. I love Simmons, too, he’s fun to watch. But we need more talent and this helps us do that," Braves general manager John Coppolella told reporters, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien.
Aybar, an All-Star in 2014 and an AL Gold Glove winner in 2011, hit .270/.301/.338 in 2015. He likely will be plugged into the Braves' lineup as Simmons' replacement.
The young pitchers — Newcomb, a 22-year-old left-hander, was considered the Angels' top pitching prospect; Ellis is a 23-year-old right-hander — can continue to develop and potentially help a pitching staff that registered a 4.41 team ERA last season.
Briceno, 23, has not played above high Single-A in six minor league seasons. The Braves acquired the Venezuela native from the Rockies last January in a trade that sent right-hander David Hale to Colorado.
Sporting News Media's Tom Gatto contributed to this report.