The Giants have placed veteran infielder Zack Cozart on release waivers following his DFA earlier this week, tweets Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Cozart never seemed particularly likely to see the field with the Giants, who have veterans Evan Longoria and Brandon Crawford locked in on the left side of the diamond and promising young Mauricio Dubon likely ticketed for regular reps at second base. San Francisco’s acquisition of the veteran Cozart, rather, was a pure means of buying 2019 first-round pick Will Wilson from the Angels. The Halos, eager to move the remaining $12.167MM on Cozart’s three-year contract, sent Wilson to the Giants as the Giants picked up the remaining tab on Cozart.
Cozart’s 2016-17 run with the Reds was excellent, albeit injury shortened, but his health troubles have escalated to new heights since signing with the Angels on a three-year, $38MM deal. While some missed time was always going to be likely given his track record, there was little reason to predict that he’d be limited to just 96 games over the first two seasons of the deal. Moreover, the .190/.261/.296 slash he posted in 360 plate appearances with the Halos registers as a shock, given his prior productivity in Cincinnati. Injuries have surely sapped some of his ability at the dish, but a decline of this magnitude was nonetheless difficult to foresee.
Once Cozart clears release waivers (a 48-hour process), he’ll become a free agent who can sign with any club for the prorated league minimum for any time spent in the big leagues. That sum would be subtracted from the $12.167MM the Giants are paying him next year, but the San Francisco organization will remain on the hook for the vast majority of Cozart’s contract.
Who are the Angels backup infielder? As an Angel fan, I would not mind him back. If he’s healthy, he’ll have value, if he’s not, he wont and they can cut him.
Of course the Angels might sign Zobrist. I’d rather have him.
Mac – Cozart has shown no value with the Angels. He would just take a roster spot from someone else. We have infield depth so I don’t see the need.
You’d have to drop someone, but again, who is the Angels backup infielder? Someone is going to take that roster spot.
The Angels have Rendon 3B, Simmons SS, Fletcher 2B/3B/SS/LF, La Stella 2B/3B/1B, Rengifo 3B/SS/2B/1B. Thaise can also play both corner IF positions as well. The Angels had the IF covered even before they signed Rendon. The Angel’s only true hole is pitching, Still.
rengifo and lastella when healthy?
Rengifo, absolutely not. He has to play every day at AAA. If Simmons of Fletcher get hurt, you can bring him up.
La Stella cannot play defense. He’s one of the worst defensive infielders in baseball.
So no on both.
Not a chance in hell we will re-sign Cozart. You must be smoking some bad weed. La Stella at is the very least the backup IF. Just as he was under Maddon in Chicago. At this stage in Zack’s career I wouldn’t trust his defense at all. He is awful at the plate and La Stella was an All Star last year before he broke his leg on foul tip.
Rengifo, Ward and the other Cozart.
Ward?
If you think Le Stella is a bad thirdbaseman, and everyone should, Ward is worse. I don’t know why Ward takes up a 40 man roster spot.
Ward is no longer a 3B. He got moved to the OF last season
Thanks Angel Fan. I did not notice that he played mostly outfield in AAA.
He doesn’t seem to have any issues hitting at AAA. Maybe he can make it as a 4th outfielder. He clearly could not make it as a 3rd baseman.
Fletcher can play 2nd, 3rd and Short, Thaiss can play 1st and 3rd, La Stella can play 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Anything requiring more than a game or two and you can call up Rengifo.
Fritz.
So you have two utility infielders who can’t play defense? And Thaiss has to be at AAA. At least he has potential. You can’t have him sitting in the major leagues.
When Pujols is at DH and LaStella is at first, what are you going to do if LaStella is needed to be your backup infielder.
The Angels need a middle utility player and I really hope Angel management doesn’t consider LaStella up for the Job.
If the Angels have a brain, LaStella will play a lot of first base this year and not much second base.
Mac – I don’t think LaStella is that bad on defense. For us at 2B he was .972 and at 3B he was .980. Neither are stellar, but his bat makes up for Cozart. LaStella owns a .972 career fielding % so he’s very consistent. I have no problem with him as our utility guy with hopefully most of his time at 1B like you said.
I didn’t notice him being horrible at 3rd. I did notice him being horrible at second. He is really bad.
One of the many things that makes the Rendon signing so great is Fletcher gets to play second base and La Stella can get in 80 to 100 games at first base.
I’m actually scared to death La Stella is going to get significant innings at second. Maddon might be crazy that way.
IMO, the Angels need a utility infielder. Rengifo and Thaiss needs to start at AAA and they should pretty much take La Stella second base glove away from him.
Why is Zobrist still out there?
Jorge.
Good question. He sat out a large portion of last year. Maybe he has things going on and will retire.
He was so good with cincy but never stayed healthy in LA
Really only had 1 or 2 “so good” years on Cincy. Otherwise he was actually quite terrible
He was never terrible in Cincy! Was one of the best defensive SS in baseball and a so so bat, but not even close to terrible.
38 mm guaranteed who’da thunk that kinda cheddar affects someone’s play
Is Will Wilson worth what they owe Cozart?
Who knows? Even if he never makes it, it was probably worth the risk. Let’s say he’s a 1-WAR guy for 6 years and then washes out. That’s still quite a bit of surplus value.
For the Giants… yes. For the Angels, only if they need the money saved to not go over the cap. So far… no.
Yeah, basically is is like giving a 12 Mil bonus to a draft pick….expect the pick doesn’t get any of it.
I don’t have high aspirations for Wilson honestly, I think they should have asked for a little better prospect (maybe they did and the Angel’s said no).
Seems odd they couldn’t have found someone to trade with before an all out release. I mean even for a minor league rookie ball project…. idk.
Why? When you can just wait for them to release him and sign him to a minors deal.
Boston should sign him just so we can feel better about paying Sandoval to play for the Giants. I’m not bitter, you’re bitter!
Orioles. Why the hell not.
Why?
……….the hell not
Cause they have so little talent that anyone is an upgrade.
Yankees on a MiLBy
Mozeliak is salivating right now for that 48 hour period to end.
The Brewers could use another older experienced infielder.
Cincy should take him back.
I agree. Even if he ends up in Louisville he’s good to have around in case someone gets hurt.
so, angels sold a first round pick for millions. pretty good!
Makes a first round pick actually worth about triple what he was paid through the draft!
nobody knows what the future holds. that trade leaves room for another s.p. either in this offseason or at the trade deadline.
Blue Jays make some sense
My phone died as I made that post, only reason I can think why it would have done that
Probably so
Blue Jays make some sense
Who makes some sense?
Stop making sense
Wow it posted 4 times!
That’s gotta be a record!
Giants plan to bring him back but not on the 40 man roster. Cozart needs more rehab and no other team wanted him or his contract. This allowed the Giants roster flexibility but because they’re on the hook for the $12M they will work with Cozart to see if he can play again.
Doubtful. If they wanted to keep him, they could have tried to outright him to AAA and see if he would accept it. They must think he’s done to just skip the attempt at seeing if he would be willing to go to AAA, and go straight to releasing him.
I wonder if the Blue Jays make some sense?
I was just thinking the same. Wonder why?
Yeah the Blue Jays do make some sense
the reds should pick him up for league minimum. would make a decent backup
If the Braves are replacing JD with every minor league 3rd base option, how about the 40 games a year Cozart gives you? It’s a minimum salary contract for ONE year, an AA favorite.
Contemplative shock : 0
Indians?
A’s Billy Bean needs to get this guy ASAP…
Billy Bean is the MLB Ambassador for Inclusion. Billy Beane is the A’s EVP of Baseball Ops and minority owner.
Dont think this guy makes any sense for the Jays (although I seem to recall reading statements to the contrary) or any team.
He is 34, has had two straight terrible seasons, is brittle, and has a career OBP of .300.
Unlike some bounce back candidates (say Sogard last year) who either make the majors or make peanuts in the minors, he has $12.6 million coming to him regardless. That is a lack of incentive.
Pass.
At prorated league minimum, someone will take a flyer on him.
He had a decent stretch in the prime age. I think his window is shut and we aren’t likely to see him back in majors much at all
Sox plz
The guy is one MLB season shy of his pension. Does he get the union pension if he has an MLB contract this season or does he need to see playing time. If so that should motivate him if nothing else.
The guy is one MLB season shy of his pension. Does he get the union pension if he has an MLB contract this season or does he need to see playing time. If so that should motivate him if nothing else.
Don’t understand this move ? Braves should take a chance.
And here’s the Cubs first MLB signing of the offseason… and probably only one, at that.
Don’t care. We traded for him to get Wilson.