He did that twice, in his age 27 and 28 seasons, and hasn't been close in the three seasons since then. He's 32 now and will turn 33 during the season. He also did sign cheaply as a backup, that's what $4m is. Not debating that $4M would be a cheap backup. Debating the "backup" part. There's still a few weeks left. I'm hoping I'm proven wrong. But I'd bet dollars to donuts he came he because he was offered significant playing time. A) This isn't a starting quarterback situation, he's a trash player coming off an awful season and didn't exactly have his pick of the litter. B) He is obviously, and very unfortunately, going to get a lot of playing time because this roster blows and he fits right in. C) There is no way the Cubs promised him they wouldn't sign a better SS to get more playing time than him. That isn't a guarantee you make to a player like Simmons. You say, "here's $4m, you are going to compete with whoever else we scrounge up for playing time." The $4m is enough of a guarantee that he's going to play.