Before all the confetti and empties were picked up from the streets of Kansas City after the Royals had their World Series parade, the Major League Baseball hot-stove season had its first blockbuster trade.
When the Los Angeles Angels decided to give up a significant return package to acquire all-world shortstop Andrelton Simmons from the Atlanta Braves, it was the kind of deal that could result in both clubs receiving game-changing players.
The Braves might end up with a pitching gem in prospect Sean Newcomb, but we already know the kind of defensive impact Simmons can have on a team. For the Angels, he could become the kind of player who alters the franchise’s fortunes, especially within an era that better understands and values defensive wizardry.
After all, Ozzie Smith is in the Hall of Fame with similar below-average offensive numbers, and Simmons might end up being a better defensive shortstop when his career comes to a close.
The question now is this: What other trade targets on the market, or potentially off the market, are the kind of franchise game-changers Simmons could become? There does seem to be a group of them to choose from, but, like Simmons, they are going to cost a team potentially great young talent.
This is when organizations have to balance their futures with the need to win now.