Los Angeles Angels add Zack Cozart with three-year deal

The Los Angeles Angels agreed to terms with free agent infielder Zack Cozart on a three-year contract, the team announced Friday.

The Angels did not disclose financial terms, but the deal is worth a reported $38 million for Cozart to likely start at third base.

Cozart, 32, played seven major league seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. He set career highs in 2017 with a .297 batting average, 80 runs scored, seven triples, 24 home runs, 55 extra-base hits, 240 total bases and a .933 OPS, while also matching his 2013 career high with 63 RBIs. He earned his first All-Star selection after being chosen as a starter for the National League via fan balloting.

Cozart became the third Reds shortstop to earn a fan election, joining Dave Concepcion and Hall of Famer Barry Larkin. Cozart finished the season leading all National League shortstops in triples, home runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. His 24 home runs were the second highest single-season total by a shortstop in Reds history, trailing only Larkin's 32 homers in 1996.

Cozart joins the Angels after spending all 11 of his professional campaigns with Cincinnati. He owns a career batting average of .254 with 375 runs, 143 doubles, 22 triples, 82 home runs and 280 RBIs in 743 games. He was selected by the Reds in the second round of the 2007 draft out of the University of Mississippi.