4 Cubs players who should be ditched by the All-Star Break

4 Cubs players who should be ditched: #3 – Andrelton Simmons

The other half of the Cubs’ budget-friendly middle infield ‘solution’, Andrelton Simmons has been pretty not-great, as well. The four-time Gold Glover hasn’t just been bad at the plate. He’s been what essentially amounts to unusable.

In 68 plate appearances (remember, he got a late start to his season), Simmons carries a 14 OPS+. Yes, you read that correctly. He’s batting .188/.212/.188 with zero extra-base hits. He’s got a career-low walk rate and is essentially an automatic out when he steps in.

Defensively, he’s definitely been better than Villar, but I think most 40-something beer league softball players can say as much. He ranks in the 80th percentile, per Statcast, in OAA – but the complete lack of value at the plate has more than erased anything he brings to the table defensively.

When Nick Madrigal returns, it’s time to roll with him and Nico Hoerner. Madrigal has been awful, as well, but he at least has a shot at being something for this team long-term. A soon-to-be 33-year-old Andrelton Simmons does not.