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.
Future DH
I don’t remember ever hearing of a multi year minor league signing…
Edinson Volquez signed one with Texas
Not common but they do happen occasionally
That is odd.
I wonder what
the Rays see…..
I think it’s supposed to be 5-7-5
3-4-3 is the 2-year minor league contract of haiku forms.
I’ve heard of it for pitchers recovering from Tommy John, but never for hitters.
Not to be confused with recent NHL draft pick Dylan Cozens… that one threw me for a loop at first.
The rare hockey/baseball athlete? I also did a double take after hearing the name after the NHL draft
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
wish him luck. massive ammount of power, hope he can put the rest together.
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.
Wasn’t he a pretty legit prospect not too long 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.
might’ve been org top 5 at once, but his k issues always kept him from being a real big prospect.
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.
Super scout!
Thanks!
I’ve literally never heard of a multi-year MiLB FA contract, Didn’t know that was a thing. Is it at all common?
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.
Edinson Volquez with Texas is the most recent one I remember
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.
” 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.
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
Darin Ruf’s 2012 numbers would like a chat with you
Come on Dylan!
Turn it around please!
He’s going to hit 50 bombs in 2021, book it.
In the Frontier League.
Welcome back, Rob Deer!
68.69% of the time in AAA this year he has achieved one of the three true outcomes. Unreal.
Lol that’s truly insane
not a massive sample size granted, but that’ essentially his game.
Adam Dunn 2.0
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.