Pete

Kozma

Kozma appeared in three games last year with the Athletics. The 34-year-old veteran utility infielder holds a pedestrian .213/.276/.288 triple-slash line with five homers and eight steals in 825 plate appearances in the majors since 2011. He’s had stints with the Cardinals, Rangers, Yankees, Tigers and Athletics over an eight-year career.

Kozma will become a free agent after clearing waivers. The veteran infielder was added to the A’s roster late in the season for roster depth. He figures to get a spring training invite somewhere over the winter.

It will be the first time in the big leagues since 2018 for Kozma. The 33-year-old will give the A’s some infield depth with Vimael Machín (illness) out.

The Athletics continue to trim their spring training roster, with Guerra being the most notable of the six reassignments, as they have 31 players left in big-league camp.

Kozma, 32, last appeared in the majors in 2018 with the Tigers. He will give the A’s some utility infield depth.

He’s among four players in Braves’ camp who have tested positive. Will Smith and Touki Toussaint have been asymptomatic so far, but Kozma is apparently dealing with some symptoms. He’ll need to get two negative tests before joining the team’s satellite roster. Kozma signed a minor league deal with the Braves during the offseason.

Will Smith, Touki Toussaint, and Pete Kozma are the others. Braves manager Brian Snitker said Toussaint and Smith are asymptomatic. However, Freeman is still battling a fever and it could be a while before he’s ready to rejoin the team. Obviously his health is the most important thing right now. Players must test negative twice, with the two tests separated by at least 24 hours, before being cleared to return. Interestingly, Snitker said Freeman tested negative earlier in the week and had not come into contact with other teammates.

The 31-year-old appeared in 88 games at Triple-A Toledo in 2019, slashing .263/.340/.414 with seven homers, 51 RBI and a pair of stolen bases. He’ll add minor league infield depth for the Braves.

Kozma elected free agency last month after being outrighted off the Tigers’ 40-man roster, but he’s ultimately decided to return. The 30-year-old will have a shot to see spot duty in the majors again in 2019 on a rebuilding Tigers squad.

Kozma was outrighted off the Tigers’ 40-man roster on Wednesday. The 30-year-old infielder holds a putrid .215/.278/.291 career batting line in 341 games at the major league level and will likely have to settle for a non-guaranteed minor league contract this winter.