Angels sign Zack Cozart to 3-year deal

The Angels have officially signed Zack Cozart to a three-year, $38 million deal, according to a team announcement. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the terms.

Cozart, a natural shortstop, will man third base for an Angels club that also added Ian Kinsler to its infield this week. The Halos already have defensive superstar Andrelton Simmons locked in at shortstop, giving the club a very talented defensive group around the diamond.

Cozart, 32, hit .297/.385/.548 with 24 homers and 63 RBI in 122 games with the Reds in his seventh and final season with Cincinnati. He was linked to the Padres throughout the winter, but that need evaporated with the team’s acquisition of Freddy Galvis earlier today.

Cozart is the latest upgrade for an Angels club that has been busy this winter. He joins Kinsler, Shohei Ohtani and Jim Johnson as new additions to the Angels, who also extended Justin Upton with a five-year, $106 million deal right after the World Series.

Cozart’s market was expected to be limited because of thelack of clubs looking for shortstops in free agency, so he did well to cash in for almost $13 million per year by being willing to switch positions. Kinsler and Cozart will replace Yunel Escobar, Johnny Giavotella and Cliff Pennington, who were the club’s main two options at second and third a year ago.