Twins sign Andrelton Simmons to 1-year deal

The Minnesota Twins have signed Andrelton Simmons, taking the star shortstop off the free agency market. Simmons is signing a one-year contract worth $10.5 million.

Throughout his career, Simmons has been regarded as one of, if not the best, defensive players in all of baseball. He has four career Gold Glove awards, but his offense has needed work. He was hitting .269 throughout his time in the MLB, but the 31-year-old seems to have turned a corner recently. In the 2018 season, he hit .292 and in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he hit a career-high .299.

He won’t bring a ton of power to the lineup, hitting only 67 bombs over his nine-year career included 26 over the last three seasons. But the Twins aren’t in massive need for offense and his veteran presence will be good for the clubhouse as well as help develop second-baseman, Jorge Polanco, for the future.

Andrelton Simmons came up in the Braves system and was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Angels, where he has spent the last five seasons.