MLB free agency: One player each team should sign

MLB free agency: One free agent each team should sign

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 24: Kansas City Royals First base Eric Hosmer (35) during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox on September 24, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois.(Photo by Jerome Lynch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 19: Zack Cozart #2 of the Cincinnati Reds takes an at bat during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on September 19, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. St. Louis defeated Cincinnati 8-7 in ten innings. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Reds: Zack Cozart

The Reds are an intriguing team to consider this winter. While their starting pitching is still light years away from being ready to contend, their lineup is one of the most intriguing in the league. Joey Votto’s greatness can not be repeated enough, but the rest of the team has taken a big step forward this season.

Cincinnati has five players this year with at least 25 home runs, and shortstop Zack Cozart is only one shy of joining that group. Speedsters Billy Hamilton and Jose Peraza have combined for 80 steals. There are still some flaws with the lineup, but overall, it is very similar to that of the Milwaukee Brewers, an unexpected contender this season.

Cozart’s offensive production took a giant leap in his walk year. His OPS spiked over 100 points from 2016 to 2017, and he has set new career highs in virtually every offensive category despite missing long stretches of the year on the disabled list. Cozart was a first-time All-Star, and his OPS+ of 144 shows how elite his bat has been this year even accounting for the Great American Smallpark.

At 32, Cozart is not a young player, but he presents an interesting test case for the Reds front office as they look to transition away from their rebuild. Cozart was already an elite defensive shortstop. With his bat ticking up to elite levels, he climbs into the upper echelon at the position. It will be up to the Reds to evaluate how sustainable his production levels are. If the front office is confident in their chances to win in the next three years, re-signing Cozart makes sense.

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