Angels sign Cozart to 3-year deal

[krAbs]

I really like how this deal (and the Kinsler deal, for that matter) feel like they have a medium floor (improvement on last year for a few million), and a sky high ceiling.

[fan_since79]

His 2011-16 OBP is .289 with an OPS of .674

2017 looks like an outlier.

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

1 minute ago, nando714 said:

I agree

i don’t like Cozart. He had a nice offensive season in his walk year. I get that he plays all over in the infield and is good defensively. 

But remember we got zero power from LF over the last few years. Upton should be good for 30 bombs.

we do need that lefty though. Imo

And that would be an issue and not knowing how many AB's they are going to dedicate to Ohtani..... If they were going to give him a 100+ then I could see the need for a Moreland or LOMO. If they are giving Ohtani more At Bats then the need for either of Lomo/Moreland is diminished.... As they require 500+ ab's to put up 22HR's/70RBI's

[bloodbrother]

This deal will look even better when Cozart moves to 2B next yr to make room for Machado at 3B

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

Just now, bloodbrother said:

This deal will look even better when Cozart moves to 2B next yr to make room for Machado at 3B and Harper in RF

fixed!...

[bloodbrother]

1 minute ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

fixed!...

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

10 minutes ago, Warfarin said:

Harrison would be neat, but I don’t think we’d go for him, as there aren’t enough ABs for him anymore.

I’m fine with Valbuena being our starting 1B most of the time, with Pujols playing 1-2 times a week.  LoMo would be a possible upgrade, but isn’t necessarily needed either.  

There was a tweet about us talking with the Pirates about him an hour before the announcement of Cozart!.... And Harrison plays into the speed Flexibility INF/OF role that EPPY has been talking about.

[nando714]

1 minute ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

There was a tweet about us talking with the Pirates about him an hour before the announcement of Cozart!.... And Harrison plays into the speed Flexibility INF/OF role.

I think he’s a guy that needs every day AB’s 

[Slegnaac]

29 minutes ago, UndertheHalo said:

Why do people not understand that Marte is worthless ?

So you are saying they cannot get a 40 man roster worthy player for Marte in a trade?  If so then they should just release him and get someone with options left.

[WeatherWonk]

How about?

Kinsler

Trout

Upton

Calhoun

Pujols

Simmons

Ohtani

Maldonado

Cozart

 

I'd rather chance Calhoun at cleanup and push Albert back to 5th than take any chances with Albert at clean up. I'd consider swapping Calhoun and Upton but I'm thinking that Trout will get better pitches if Upton is behind him.

 

[VariousCrap]

2 hours ago, mulwin444 said:

Hooray...we signed the "Gary Matthews Jr" of infielders

Meh

 

You've been hoping to use that all offseason, haven't you?

[CanadianHalo]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/war/leaders

This gives us 4 guys in the top 36 of WAR leaders in the majors.

Simmons, Trout, Upton and Cozart

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

So, when do we get Brett Gardner to back up the 3 OF spots?..... 

 

[Jeff Fletcher]

1 hour ago, aznhockeyguy said:

.700 OPS from Cozart with his above average defense would be what I expect from him.  Don't think it's an overpay.  2 WAR players usually cost about this amount.

Worth noting that he's a 2 WAR at SS. The same offensive numbers would be worth less at 3B, not to mention he may be worse defensively at 3B than at SS since it's new to him.

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

5 minutes ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

Worth noting that he's a 2 WAR at SS. The same offensive numbers would be worth less at 3B, not to mention he may be worse defensively at 3B than at SS since it's new to him.

But, also, you could say he would only really have to worry about his glove side range wise which should be good. As there is less ground to cover on his right side. Plus, with Simba's range he's even in a tighter box left to right range wise.

So, in reality you are looking at his first step quickness left to right and ability to react/reaction time at the hot corner!

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

1 hour ago, totdprods said:

I hope not we're RHH heavy as fuck and Cron can only play one spot.

Cron hits RHP better than LHP and 10 of his 16 HR against RHP. Cron had a higher batting ave, than Valbuena against RP.  Valbuena can't hit LHP at all. If Cron is gone, then on the days Albert is the DH and a LHP is going for the other team who plays 1B? Luis, who sticks against LHP? Valbuena hit .199 last year .199, trade him and keep Cron. Cron was the better defender at 1B last year as well. Cowart can play every position on the IF in a pinch and excels at 2B and 3B, he can also play a little OF and is a switch hitter. Keep Cron and make Coward the utility man, he can pinch run and even steal a base or two.

RHP -- CJ Cron .253/.309/.415/.724 - 10 HR   Luis Valbuena .210/.305/.460/.765  - 21 HR 

LHP -- CJ Cron .233/.290/.500/.790 - 6 HR     Luis Valbuena .105/.213/.211/.423 - 1 HR  

 

[ten ocho recon scout]

2 hours ago, Warfarin said:

Wow!  3 years sounds like a lot, but it's expected.  He will definitely confer flexibility.  I'm guessing he's our starting 3B this year, then starting 2B the next two years thereafter.  He will be able to backup Simmons too when he needs days off.  

I know this isn't the most exciting signing, but he does play a significant role for us in that he fills a hole (3B) AND provides insurance for the middle infield too.  Strong move, and another indication of our "defense first" priorities, as we opted to go for him over Moose.

Agreed. Not the best move for excitement, but I have a feeling this was done in order to have him take over for kinsler either next year or at the deadline.

I would prefer a better bat at 3B, but if we didnt spend a lot, it gives flexibility....flexibility to use money on pitching, on a bigger fish free agent looking forward, and perhaps most important, we keep our farm chips intact for a replacement down the road.

[eaterfan]

8 minutes ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

Worth noting that he's a 2 WAR at SS. The same offensive numbers would be worth less at 3B, not to mention he may be worse defensively at 3B than at SS since it's new to him.

Hopefully the transition is smooth. But theoretically, WAR is designed so that any offensive loss caused by a position change is mitigated by a defensive gain. It doesn't hold up around the extremes but for most players it's fairly true.

[papawealey]

Eppler is making this into his team, that's evident. Next year's team won't look so much like last year's.

[Jeff Fletcher]

7 minutes ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

But, also, you could say he would only really have to worry about his glove side range wise which should be good. As there is less ground to cover on his right side. Plus, with Simba's range he's even in a tighter box left to right range wise.

So, in reality you are looking at his first step quickness left to right and ability to react/reaction time at the hot corner!

Admittedly, the defense half of the equation is the lesser part of my previous post.

The main point I was trying to make is that his offense gets downgraded when he goes to 3B, reducing his WAR.

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

7 minutes ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

Admittedly, the defense half of the equation is the lesser part of my previous post.

The main point I was trying to make is that his offense gets downgraded when he goes to 3B, reducing his WAR.

I understand that Jeff, But, you included the unknown of position change into your thought. Which is a question that will be found out in SPT. It could affect his overall WAR which could/would be a .75-.5% change either way. He's not going to be a 30+100+300+900 guy. But, defensively, Range wise he should be more than adequate and might even be the best we've had at the position arguably since Carney & DeCinces (If it works out)!..... Comes back to first step laterally and reaction time. As at SS they have the ability to get around the ball and set themselves up for the throw, usually.

[VariousCrap]

Here is what Baseball Reference has for his 2018 projection:

Year	Tm	Age	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Rel
2018	Proj.	32	504	447	71	119	25	4	20	58	4	1	48	87	.266	.339	.474	.813	212	8	3	1	4	2	81%

 

If he puts up that type of offensive season next year, I think we will all be very happy.

[Angelsfan1984]

2 minutes ago, VariousCrap said:

Here is what Baseball Reference has for his 2018 projection:

Year	Tm	Age	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Rel
2018	Proj.	32	504	447	71	119	25	4	20	58	4	1	48	87	.266	.339	.474	.813	212	8	3	1	4	2	81%

 

If he puts up that type of offensive season next year, I think we will all be very happy.

If he puts that up ill be ecstatic.

[mulwin444]

22 minutes ago, VariousCrap said:

 

You've been hoping to use that all offseason, haven't you?

Nah, just thought of it this morning actually .  Hope he's good...two years less than GMJr so it could be worse 

[Turd Ferguson]

I'm likely overthinking this but any chance that Cozart goes to 2b and Kinsler to 3b? It would require that both guys learn new positions, so maybe not feasible. But I like the idea of having Cozart on the Pujols side of the IF.