Angels’ Zack Cozart to have shoulder surgery

Angels third baseman Zack Cozart will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, the team announced. The club did not give a timetable for his return, but it seems as if he will be out for the rest of 2018 since the recovery time typically takes six to eight months for this type of surgery.

Cozart sustained the injury while diving for a ground ball during the Angels’ game against the Mariners on June 13. Cozart was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder subluxation on June 15, but had continued discomfort in the shoulder and decided to get a second opinion on the injury. In

Prior to the injury, the 32-year-old Cozart only slashed .219/.296/.362 with five home runs and 18 RBI in 58 games. It’s a tough blow for Cozart, who signed a three-year, $38 million deal to play third base for the Angels over the offseason after having an All-Star season with the Reds by slashing .297/.385/.548 with 24 homers and 63 RBI in 122 games in his seventh and final season in Cincinnati.

For now, rookie David Fletcher and veteran Luis Valbuena will continue to split the duties at the hot corner in Cozart’s absence. However, the Angels could look on the trade market for a third baseman, as players such as Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson, Mike Moustakas, Adrian Beltre and Todd Frazier are names that have been reportedly mentioned as possible candidates to be dealt this summer.