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Zack Cozart signs with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

By Christopher Novak

MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 26: Zack Cozart #2 of the Cincinnati Reds fields a ground ball during the seventh inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 26, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 26: Zack Cozart #2 of the Cincinnati Reds fields a ground ball during the seventh inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 26, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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A former Reds shortstop heads west to Anaheim. Zack Cozart is the newest member of the Angels.

Zack Cozart is the latest to sign with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The former Cincinnati Reds shortstop agreed to a three-year deal with the Halos on Friday morning.

Cozart had an 11-year career in the Reds organization. He joined the MLB roster in 2011 and was part of the 2012 team that won the NL Central. His lifetime numbers with the Reds had Cozart at .254/.305/.411, with 143 doubles, 82 home runs, 280 RBI, 375 runs scored with 195 walks.

He earned his first trip to the All-Star Game in Miami a season ago, and it was easy to see why. Cozart had career highs in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, OPS+, total bases, triples, homers, runs scored,RBI and walks. Furthermore, he also posted a career high 5.0 fWAR, with the highest walk-rate of his career (12.2 percent) as well. Needless to say, Cozart had a caree- year, became a free agent and cashed in.

The Reds were, unfortunately, probably never going to re-sign Cozart, as they are mostly going through a rebuild. They will likely turn to internal options to fill the void left now. Jose Peraza figures to be the frontrunner. Peraza played 143 games in 2017, with 55 of them coming at short and 48 starts.

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It will be interesting to see where Cozart lands in the field next year. The Halos, of course, have one of the best defensive shortstops in the game in Andrelton Simmons. They are well taken care of at second base as well, having acquired Ian Kinsler this offseason, too. Perhaps third base is an option, as he could split time with Luis Valbuena. Valbuena played 59 games at third base last year and 48 at first, so there’s an easy route to take if Mike Scioscia wants to get both on the field.

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