The Atlanta Braves continued the signing binge of its own players today, this time signing shortstop Andrelton Simmons to a seven-year deal worth $58 million. Simmons, 24, joins first baseman Freddie Freeman, right fielder Jason Heyward, starter Julio Teheran and closer Craig Kimbrel as players the Braves recently signed to new contracts.
Simmons, 24, hit .248/.296/.396 (87 OPS+) with 17 homers in 157 games in 2014 and is an elite defensive shortstop. He won the Gold Glove and according to advanced defensive metrics turned in one of the most valuable fielding seasons of all-time. The deal means that the Braves buy out all of Simmons’s arbitration years and two of his free agency years.
The final breakdown of the deal is $1 million, $3 million, $6 million, $8 million, $11 million, $13 million and $15 million with a $1 million signing bonus.
