Angels trade Cozart to Giants
The Los Angeles Angels traded third baseman Zack Cozart and minor-league infielder Will Wilson to the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations or a player to be named later, the team announced Tuesday.
Cozart, 34, signed a three-year, $38-million contract with the Angels following his 2017 All-Star campaign where he hit a career-high 24 home runs and .933 OPS with the Cincinnati Reds. In the first two years of his deal, he's managed to hit just .190/.261/.296 with five homers in 96 games thanks to various injuries. He last played on May 26 and underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in July.
The veteran is set to earn $12.67 million in 2020, and the Giants have agreed to take on the entire salary, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
He joins a fairly crowded infield that already includes Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford, Mauricio Dubon, and Brandon Belt.
Wilson, 21, was selected 15th overall by the Angels this past summer in the 2019 amateur draft. In 46 games at rookie ball, he hit .275/.328/.439 with five home runs.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said the club considered drafting Wilson with the 10th overall pick before ultimately settling on Arizona State outfielder Hunter Bishop, according to Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group.
The Angels have been linked to top free agents Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon this offseason. However, while this trade does free up payroll, it's not necessarily indicative of another impending move, Fletcher notes.