Giants acquire Zack Cozart, Will Wilson at Winter Meetings

The San Francisco Giants made a splash at the Winter Meetings by acquiring infielder Zack Cozart and prospect Will Wilson for cash or a player to be named.After a quiet Monday, the San Francisco Giants were one of the teams to make a splash during a busy Tuesday at the MLB Winter Meetings.

With the Los Angeles Angels looking to trim payroll, the Giants took full advantage, absorbing an unfavorable contract to acquire a quality prospect.

Here’s a full breakdown of the deal:

In a nutshell, the Giants bring in another prospect to bolster their system at the cost of taking on what remains of Cozart’s contract, which amounts to $12.7 million in 2020, and they will give up next-to-nothing in return.

Cozart spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, where he hit .297/.385/.548 with 24 home runs during a contract year in 2017 to earn a spot on the NL All-Star team.

That netted him a three-year, $38 million deal from the Angels in free agency.

Unfortunately, his time in Los Angeles did not go according to plan. Between a torn labrum in 2018 and a number of other injuries in 2019, he was limited to just 96 games in his two seasons with the team. He hit .190/.261/.296 and posted -0.7 WAR when he was able to take the field.

The real prize of the deal is Will Wilson, who was the No. 15 overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft out of NC State and slots in as the No. 10 prospect in an improving San Francisco farm system:

Here’s his scouting report, courtesy of MLB.com:

"Though he’s not physically imposing, Wilson has quick hands and deceptive strength that give him at least above-average raw power. A right-handed hitter, he has a knack for putting the barrel on the ball. He shows the ability to hit for average and power, and he has done a better job of drawing walks this spring despite his aggressive approach.The biggest knock on Wilson is his below-average speed. Most big league shortstops run better than Wilson, though some scouts think he can stay at the position because he has quick actions and hands. Others believe his speed and average arm will land him at second base, and he split time between the two positions during his pro debut."

The 21-year-old hit .275 with .328 on-base percentage and five home runs in 189 at-bats at the Low-A level after signing, and he should open 2020 in full-season ball.

While Giants fans may not know much about Wilson yet, they are sure to enjoy his shared distaste in the Los Angeles Dodgers:

This deal did not address the clear need for a center fielder, but it is a step in the right direction for the Giants as they continue to bolster their farm system with an eye on the future.

Anything the team gets from Cozart next season will be a bonus. He could be a veteran utility man off the bench, having covered second base, third base, and shortstop the previous two seasons, or he could push Brandon Crawford for playing time.

For now, fans should be excited about the potential that Wilson brings, and the promise of more activity to come this offseason.