Zack Cozart

[Cory Engelhardt]

Before I write this post, I should say that it is my belief that Dozier is traded, probably for pitching, and that Polanco is moved to 2nd before the start of 2017.

 

If/when that happens, I think another way to really help the pitching staff and #runsallowed number would be to trade for Zack Cozart. He is one of the more premiere defensive shortstops in all of baseball, and I would feel extremely comfortable having a shortstop like him next to Sano at 3rd, even if Sano does hypothetically lose weight and becomes closer to league average defensively, which is all any of us are hoping for...

 

Zack Cozart just turned 31 on August 12th, so he'll be 31 for most of next year and he is a free agent after 2017. His career offensive numbers are nothing to write home about (246/289/385 with a wRC+ of 80 (100 is league average) but his 2015 was his best year (wRC+ of 105, slightly above league average as a SS, 258/310/459) and in 2016 he has hit 252/308/425 and has a career high 16 homeruns.

 

I don't think we could expect him to hit that well. Cincinnati is definitely a bandbox. That said, we wouldn't be acquiring him for his offense. He is a defensive machine.

 

This year, Cozart has a 9.6 ultimate zone rating, and a defensive war of 14.4. That means he gets to more plays (by a large margin) than most shortstops can get to, and he makes them at a much higher rate. Eduardo Nunez, while he was playing SS with the Twins, was 0.3 UZR and had a defensive WAR of 3.7. Jorge Polanco at SS this year has a -23.8 UZR and a -5.2 defensive rating. Cozart is an ENORMOUS upgrade defensively over what we have been playing out there, and would certainly help the pitching/defense on the team.

 

Like I said before, he is a free agent after 2017. The Twins have Nick Gordon/Engelb Vielma that they are hoping will be ready later in 2017 or maybe in 2018 at some point. That said, having a really good fielding shortstop, at least for 2017, would certainly help overall.

 

The Reds were close to trading Cozart to the Mariners at the deadline this year, but that fell through. He is certainly attainable this offseason. Would you trade for him? Knowing he is a free agent after this year, what would you give up if you were trading for him?

 

 

[Craig Arko]

Probably could get Pedro Florimon for a song.

[Linus]

I think this is the correct path. Trade dozier, move Polanco to 2nd and sign a glove first ss. Need more than one year before FA and no reason to trade for this guy. But this is the type of guy we should target in free agency.

[Mr. Brooks]

I'm not sure a 100+ loss team should be trading asset for a 31 year old 1 year rental.

[mudcat14]

If they want to go that route, I'd just as soon go with Vielma as a defense first SS for next to no cost.  After 2017 if Gordon doesn't look to be the long term solution, we can explore external options then.  I just think every resource for next year needs to be spent on pitching and a catcher. 

[pierre75275]

I would love to see the Twins trade for Cozart, and trade Dozier for a top prospect pitcher and a top prospect catcher. See the Dodgers. Have no idea if the return is feasible or not