Cozart (shoulder) was released by the Giants on Wednesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
It appeared all along that the Giants' acquisition of Cozart from the Angels in December, which also netted them prospect Will Wilson, was nothing more than a salary dump by the Angels, and Cozart's release confirms that. With Cozart now 34 years old and coming off two seasons of major injury trouble, he'll likely be looking for a minor-league deal with his next team.
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Giants' Zack Cozart: Dropped from 40-man roster
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Cozart (shoulder) was designated for assignment by the Giants on Monday.
Cozart was picked up in a salary dump from the Angels in December, but the Giants clearly didn't intend to keep him around. It's unlikely he'll be claimed, as he's dealt with multiple injuries in recent years and has hit .190/.261/.296 over the last two seasons combined. Jake Jewell was claimed off waivers in a corresponding move.
Cozart (shoulder) was traded from the Angels to the Giants along with along with Will Wilson in exchange for a player to be named later or cash Tuesday.
The trade is a clear salary dump for the Angels, who have been connected to most of the top free agents on the market this winter. Injuries have limited Cozart to just 96 major-league games since he signed with the Angels prior to the 2018 season for three years and $38 million. He's been quite poor in those games, hitting .190/.261/.296, so the Giants will get the Angels' 2019 first-round pick (Wilson) in exchange for taking on his contract. Whether the Giants have any intention of having the 34-year-old compete for a roster spot this spring remains to be seen.
Cozart (shoulder) is ready to begin a hitting progression, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Shoulder injuries have limited Cozart to just 96 games over the last two years combined. He hit just .124/.178/.144 in 38 contests last season before undergoing an arthroscopic debridement procedure in mid-July. He has plenty of time to get ready for the 2020 season, though it's hard to have much confidence in his health heading into his age-34 season following a series of injuries over the last several years.
Cozart (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. He will undergo an arthroscopic debridement of his left shoulder on July 17 with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.
This is a minimally invasive procedure to remove tissue in the shoulder joint, but he will still miss the remainder of the 2019 season. Matt Thaiss will work as the Angels' starting third baseman going forward.
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Angels' Zack Cozart: Not progressing in recovery
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Cozart (shoulder) hasn't taken a swing in a month and still has limited range of motion with his left shoulder, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Cozart landed on the injured list in late May after feeling tightness in his shoulder related to the surgery he had to address a torn labrum in June 2017, and he's still having pretty significant issues four weeks later. The 33-year-old is looking at different ways to tweak his swing to circumvent the problem but hasn't had any luck thus far. When asked if the injury could be a career-altering problem, he responded, "It's looking that way," per Ardaya. Cozart will be re-evaluated in the near future and should be considered out indefinitely.
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Angels' Zack Cozart: Dealing with shoulder tightness
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Cozart has been shut down from swinging since he is experiencing tightness in his left shoulder from surgery last June, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Cozart previously dealt with looseness in the shoulder, but he's now battling the opposite issue after last year's surgery to address a torn labrum, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. The 33-year-old hasn't been able to get full extension on his swings, leading to his placement on the injured list May 28. It sounds as though Cozart will attempt to tweak his swing to circumvent the issue.
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Angels' Zack Cozart: Out with shoulder injury
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Cozart will be placed on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder injury Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
The severity of the injury is not yet clear. Cozart posted a .282 OPS in 23 games before landing on the injured list with a neck injury and has a .398 OPS in 15 games since his return. Cesar Puello's contract was purchased in a corresponding move.
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Angels' Zack Cozart: Heads to bench
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Cozart is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
The emergence of Tommy La Stella resulted in Cozart falling into a reserve role earlier this month, but he's benefited from shortstop Andrelton Simmons having since sustained a Grade 3 ankle sprain that could sideline him for two months or longer. Cozart drew starts in each of the last three games, but he'll take a seat in the series finale with manager Brad Ausmus going with a double-play tandem of La Stella and recent callup Luis Rengifo.
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Angels' Zack Cozart: Remains out Wednesday
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Cozart is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Twins, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Cozart will sit for a third straight game as Tommy La Stella draws another start at the hot corner in his stead. There has been no word of any injury, so it seems the Angels are simply turning elsewhere with Cozart hitting just .136/.189/.160 on the season.
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Angels' Zack Cozart: Sitting again Tuesday
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Cozart isn't starting Tuesday against the Twins.
Cozart will remain out of the starting lineup for the second straight day, though he did enter Monday night's contest as a defensive replacement. Tommy La Stella is set to start at the hot corner and lead off in Cozart's stead.
