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Rays Sign Dylan Cozens To Two-Year Minor League Deal

By Ty Bradley | August 10, 2019 at 1:47pm CDT

The Rays have signed former Phillies OF Dylan Cozens to a two-year minor-league deal, Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reports.

The hulking Cozens, 25, has missed much of the ’19 season with a toe injury that ultimately required surgery in mid-May. Prior to hitting the shelf, the former second-round pick had slashed .167/.333/.462 for Triple-A Lehigh-Valley, with an extreme 20.2% BB/ 42.4% K plate-discipline profile.

Cozens, who’s had trouble finding a position throughout his minor-league tenure with the Phils, famously smashed 40 homers in 134 2016 games in AA-Reading’s bandbox of a park. After a too-aggressive approach early in his minor league career, the lefty’s tightened things up, posting walk rates above 10% in each of the last four seasons. In a 44 plate-appearance cameo for last season’s Phils, Cozens posted just a 58 wRC+ while punching out nearly 55% of the time.

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34 Comments

  1. itslonelyatthetrop

    6 years ago

    Future DH

    Reply
    • todd76

      6 years ago

      I don’t remember ever hearing of a multi year minor league signing…

      4
      Reply
      • Dan Rogers

        6 years ago

        Edinson Volquez signed one with Texas

        Reply
      • redsfan48

        6 years ago

        Not common but they do happen occasionally

        Reply
      • jorge78

        6 years ago

        That is odd.
        I wonder what
        the Rays see…..

        1
        Reply
        • Emerson83

          6 years ago

          I think it’s supposed to be 5-7-5

          1
          Reply
        • doffbhoya123

          6 years ago

          3-4-3 is the 2-year minor league contract of haiku forms.

          2
          Reply
      • No Soup For Yu!

        6 years ago

        I’ve heard of it for pitchers recovering from Tommy John, but never for hitters.

        Reply
  2. Connorsoxfan

    6 years ago

    Not to be confused with recent NHL draft pick Dylan Cozens… that one threw me for a loop at first.

    Reply
    • paddyo furnichuh

      6 years ago

      The rare hockey/baseball athlete? I also did a double take after hearing the name after the NHL draft

      Reply
      • koldjerky

        6 years ago

        I believe there is a Hunter Renfroe in the NFL but a different spelling of the last name. I had to double take that too

        Reply
  3. DarkSide830

    6 years ago

    wish him luck. massive ammount of power, hope he can put the rest together.

    Reply
  4. RichieAssburn

    6 years ago

    Good for him. Phils gave him a few shots and it just didn’t happen for him. Glad to see him get another chance with a team that seems to be a good fit.

    2
    Reply
  5. jdgoat

    6 years ago

    Wasn’t he a pretty legit prospect not too long ago?

    Reply
    • Dan Rogers

      6 years ago

      Not really. I think it was pretty much assumed he was gonna be an all or nothing guy that was a product of the ballpark.

      Reply
    • DarkSide830

      6 years ago

      might’ve been org top 5 at once, but his k issues always kept him from being a real big prospect.

      Reply
  6. bobtillman

    6 years ago

    Though they have one of the better systems, the Rays are extremely thin at the upper levels, especially in the OF; losing Sanchez and McCarthy in trades leaves them almost totally empty. The 2-year deal was probably done more to appease the Durham ownership for next year. At least it’s a recognizable name, and a shot-in-the-dark move that maybe they think they can do something with.

    But there’s little question that K’s are a major problem area with the MLB club (6th in MLB) and Cozens doesn’t do anything to alleviate those concerns.

    Reply
    • jorge78

      6 years ago

      Super scout!
      Thanks!

      2
      Reply
  7. goob

    6 years ago

    I’ve literally never heard of a multi-year MiLB FA contract, Didn’t know that was a thing. Is it at all common?

    1
    Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      6 years ago

      It’s really rare, and I know I’ve seen it in the past, but I can’t remember anyone that signed one. I imagine it’s mainly for guys rehabbing long injuries like this.

      Something is telling me that Jonny Venters was an example during his rehab, but I didn’t look it up so I might be wrong.

      1
      Reply
      • Dan Rogers

        6 years ago

        Edinson Volquez with Texas is the most recent one I remember

        1
        Reply
      • bobtillman

        6 years ago

        They’re less rare this time of the year, with the MiLB season ending in 3 weeks, sans playoffs. And MiLB 6-year Free Agency (which Cozens would qualify for), begins around the middle of September. And they all contain opt-outs, in the event of a MLB 40-man offer.

        The Durham roster is loaded with AAA vagabond types, and figures to be so next year too, as the current roster undergoes the usual turnover of those types of players, and the lack of any real promotable talent from AA. Besides, of course, the Rays infatigueable supply of pitchers.

        2
        Reply
        • buddaley

          6 years ago

          ” and the lack of any real promotable talent from AA.”

          I think this is an overstatement as Brujan, J. lowe and Walls are likely to move up as are possibly a few other players besides pitchers. That is particularly true as there is some talent at A+ that will need to have room in Montgomery.

          And by the way, although I think it is true that the outfield prospect depth is very thin at the upper levels, we should remember that the Rays are not strait-jacketed by a player’s accustomed position. Aside from Lowe who is showing some signs of improvement this year, other infielders, where they have a glut of talent, may be tried on the outfield.

          1
          Reply
  8. gotribe16

    6 years ago

    I disagree with your assessment of Reading’s ballpark being known as a ban box. It’s always been considered a pitchers park. the ball doesn’t carry there at all until June

    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      6 years ago

      Darin Ruf’s 2012 numbers would like a chat with you

      Reply
  9. jorge78

    6 years ago

    Come on Dylan!
    Turn it around please!

    Reply
  10. Strike Four

    6 years ago

    He’s going to hit 50 bombs in 2021, book it.

    Reply
    • brickhaus

      6 years ago

      In the Frontier League.

      Reply
  11. jim stem

    6 years ago

    Welcome back, Rob Deer!

    Reply
  12. No Soup For Yu!

    6 years ago

    68.69% of the time in AAA this year he has achieved one of the three true outcomes. Unreal.

    Reply
    • robluca21

      6 years ago

      Lol that’s truly insane

      Reply
      • DarkSide830

        6 years ago

        not a massive sample size granted, but that’ essentially his game.

        Reply
    • Itrainsontuesday

      6 years ago

      Adam Dunn 2.0

      Reply
      • brickhaus

        6 years ago

        I think the Rays would be thrilled if he hits 40 bombs a season with an OBP around .380. More likely Kila Ka’ahiue 2.0.

        Reply

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