Reds free agency: Zack Cozart must market as utility player
By Tim Boyle
The market for shortstops this offseason is quite dry. Reds free agency includes Zack Cozart, it’s important that he markets himself as a utility man and not just a shortstop.
Ex-Cincinnati Reds shortstop and current Reds free agency target Zack Cozart is a baseball nomad right now hoping to find the right fit for 2018. Like a few other shortstops in recent free agent memory can attest to, it’s not a very good market. Many of baseball’s best teams are already secure at the position. Others have youngsters they want to see play. This leaves Cozart in a bind.
A quick look around the league, and it’s very clear how few organizations need a shortstop. Other than perhaps the San Diego Padres, there is no great need. The position is deep across the MLB landscape. Because of this, Cozart needs to market himself a little differently this offseason.
Rather than strictly stick with shortstop, Cozart must be open to playing other positions. Unfortunately, since debuting in 2011 with the Reds, the 32-year-old has never played anywhere else. He’ll have to wow general managers with a great cover letter instead of sticking with his resume.
Even with a shortstop, shortstop is one of the more difficult positions to play in baseball. Many who master that position can also do good work elsewhere. Based on Cozart’s consistency at rating positively on defense, I have no doubt he can play just about anywhere his manager asks. The question is, who will be his manager?