Angels clear way with Cozart deal
They shed big salary of injury-plagued player and make room for big addition, but it costs them first-rounder.
The Angels on Tuesday traded veteran infielder Zack Cozart and 2019 first-round draft pick Will Wilson to San Francisco for cash or a player to be named, clearing space on the payroll and roster as negotiations heat up at the winter meetings.
Cozart, 34, signed a three-year, $38-million contract as a free agent prior to the 2018 campaign but appeared in only 96 games in two seasons because of injuries. He hit .190 with five home runs and 25 RBIs.
Cozart is owed about $12.6 million in the final year of his deal. The Giants will pay the entire balance.
Wilson, 21, was drafted 15th overall. He appeared in 46 games with Class-A Orem and batted .275 with 10 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 18 RBIs while splitting time between shortstop and second base.
The Angels have interest in freeagent third baseman Anthony Rendon, said a person close to the negotiations not authorized to speak publicly, and met Tuesday with his agent, Scott Boras.
Gregorius to Phillies
Shortstop Didi Gregorius and Philadelphia agreed to a one-year, $14-million contract, according to reports, reuniting him with Joe Girardi, his former manager on the New York Yankees.
Gregorius, who turns 30 in February, batted .238 with 16 homers for New York last season. But he was coming back from reconstructive elbow surgery, and the Phillies are betting that his production will return to his 2017-18 level (.277, 52 homers).
Nationals re-sign Kendrick, Gomes
Doing its best to keep as much of its World Series-winning roster intact as possible, Washington announced it re-signed catcher Yan Gomes and infielder Howie Kendrick, a day after bringing back Stephen Strasburg for $245 million.
Gomes agreed to a $10-million, two-year contract. Kendrick’s deal is for $4 million next year and a $6.5million mutual option for 2021.
Kendrick, 36, batted .344 with 17 home runs and 62 RBIs last season. He hit a 10th-inning grand slam to eliminate the Dodgers, earned most valuable player in the NL Championship Series sweep of St. Louis, and delivered a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the World Series against Houston.
Etc.
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger and the Angels’ Mike Trout were selected to the first-ever all-MLB first team. The Dodgers’ Hyun-Jin Ryu made the second team . ... Texas traded outfielder Nomar Mazara to the Chicago White Sox for a minor leaguer . ... San Francisco signed right-hander Kevin Gausman toa one-year, $9-million deal . ... Veteran outfielder Adam Jones will play in Japan next season . ... San Diego and Arizona will play the first regularseason games in Mexico City in April.