2019 Angels Year in Review: 3rd Base

11/5/19 - Jay Sheehy - Founder and Editor-in-Chief

The Angels signed Zack Cozart to a three-year thirty-eight million dollar contract after a 2017 season where he made his first all-star game. Though Cozart played shortstop for the Reds in the 2017 season, the Angels brass envisioned a bulwark of epic proportions on the left side of the infield by moving Cozart to third base to play alongside All-Universe defender, shortstop Andrelton Simmons. I’ll be nice as I can when I point out how far from reality that vision turned out to be. Although injuries had a lot to do with it, Cozart definitely capitalized on his way above average (for him) walk year to secure a contract that has been 100% in his favor, much to the chagrin of Angels fans everywhere. This was the main culprit as to why the Angels third base position ranked 22nd in baseball.

Third Base: The Good, The Bad and The Cozart

Left to right: Zack Cozart, David Fletcher

Zack Cozart ($12,666,666) - Maybe there are too many sixes in a row in Zack’s contract because it hasn’t turned out to be a good one for the Los Angeles Angels. After injuries relegated Cozart to a 58 game season in 2017, talk coming into the season focused on how good he felt. Famous last words in the sporting community. Yet, there’s a decent chance that 58 games might be a high for him in his three seasons in Anaheim. The 2018 season came up twenty games short of the prior year, totaling 38 games, and while he was on the field was utterly disastrous. While Cozart remained steady on the defensive side of the ball, he was a lost cause in the batter’s box. Maybe the May 28th ending to his season, which was brought on due to issues with his surgically repaired left shoulder, was merely a mercy for Cozart after his .124/.178/.144/.322 line and -12 OPS+…It’s difficult to truly encapsulate how bad a NEGATIVE TWELVE OPS IS!! (and sadly, after a couple Angels catchers had lower it might seem somewhat normal, but it most certainly is not). Cozart ended the season with more strikeouts than total bases. Yet, it was a small sample size, and much of what was written focused on how (despite off-season information indicating the opposite) his shoulder was giving him trouble. So much for that dream team on the left side of the infield. Zack Cozart is a solid guy, he plays the right way and he capitalized on his best season to the tune of nearly $13 million a year. It’s been a lost couple years for him and I truly hope for his sake (and a little bit mine and all Angels fans) he can stay healthy this year.
Baseball Reference credited him with -0.8 WAR. FanGraph credited him with -0.9 WAR.

David Fletcher ($575,000ish) - THE GOOD - The combination of injuries that hit the Angels in 2019, which included all three infield starters (La Stella, Cozart, and shortstop Andrelton Simmons), put pressure on the Angels to fill each spot as the injuries came along. That pressure pushed them to find the diamond that is David Fletcher. At 5’9” and 190 pounds, Fletcher immediately brought to mind former Angels every-man, David Eckstein to Angels faithful (I’m sure Fletcher would quickly point out that Eckstein was 5’7” 170 pounds soaking wet when he played in Anaheim). The comparison is rather apt on the field, though Fletcher has already shown himself to be a superior and more versatile defender. Fletcher started 42 games at 2nd base, 90 games at 3rd base, 39 games at shortstop, 21 in left field and two more in right to solidify his Swiss-army knife season. Defensive metrics across the board were positive and the Angels new manager Joe Maddon will surely enjoy the Cubs like versatility his new 2B/3B/SS/OF has. Fletcher’s line of .290/.350/.384/.734 was good for a 97 OPS+ and he also stole 8/11 bases on the base path. In a lost season like 2018 it is quite a relief to find there are huge positives that were found in the rubble. David Fletcher is a huge positive.
Baseball Reference: 3.8 WAR. FanGraph: 3.4 WAR

Matt Thaiss (mentioned at 1st base) started 43 games at 3rd base, Tommy La Stella (mentioned at 2nd base) started 30 games and Kaleb Cowart was there for six and Taylor Ward had four starts.

Where we go from here:
Zack Cozart will be back making his $12,666,667 salary and hopefully he’ll play a hundred plus games.
David Fletcher will be back playing all over the field and bringing an endless amount of energy. And Angels fans will be happy to see him again. Or, Cozart won’t make it back and Fletcher will man third base once again. Either way is fine.

While everyone has been writing about the necessity of signing a starting pitcher or three, there have been small rumblings about how going after an all-star third baseman would be just as useful for an offense that ranked in the middle of the pack in OPS (18th) and runs scored (15th). Enter Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson. While both players have qualifying offers from their respective teams, they are more than worth the draft pick that would be lost. However, with the Angels holes at starting pitcher and catcher being so much greater than third base, it would be shocking to see them spend money here. Donaldson actually makes a little bit more sense because he would be open to a shorter contract than Rendon. Both of them will be making north of $24 million a year, however, and that is too much money to spend on a position that was adequately played this season. Most Angels fans would be crushed if that money isn’t funneled into positions that need it more. If David Fletcher is the Angels everyday starting third baseman in 2020, then that position is in more than capable hands. And hopefully, he’ll be there playing behind Gerrit Cole.