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MLB Free Agency 2017: 5 potential landing spots for Zack Cozart

By Joshua Sadlock

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 20: Zack Cozart #2 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on September 20, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cardinals won 9-2. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 20: Zack Cozart #2 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on September 20, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cardinals won 9-2. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 10: Tim Beckham #1 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to first base against the Cleveland Indians in the seventh inning at Progressive Field on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Orioles 3-2, (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 10: Tim Beckham #1 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to first base against the Cleveland Indians in the seventh inning at Progressive Field on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Orioles 3-2, (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /

3. Baltimore Orioles

If the market for Cozart is slow to develop, the one team that cannot be ruled out from swooping in to pick him up at the last minute is the Baltimore Orioles. O’s GM Dan Duquette is the best in the business at seizing an opportunity to sign quality players at below-market rates, and Cozart does not even come with the qualifying offer tied to him like some of the players Duquette has signed in years past.

The Orioles are in flux at the shortstop position with J.J. Hardy’s tenure coming to an end. Tim Beckham hit .306/.348/.523 in 50 games for Baltimore after coming over at the trade deadline. The former number-one overall pick had the best year of his career, hitting 22 total home runs with 62 RBI. Defense remains a problem, however. Beckham made 20 errors total last year, including nine in only 49 games at shortstop for the Orioles.

Beckham does have a role with the Orioles going forward, but it remains unclear if he can be trusted as an everyday shortstop. Baltimore’s pitching staff has enough problems as it is, and cannot afford to be giving away outs at one of the most important defensive positions on the diamond. If Duquette is able to dump Mark Trumbo’s contract, that would free up at-bats for Beckham in the outfield or at DH.

Signing two or three veteran starting pitchers should be the first priority for Duquette and the Orioles front office this year, but if Cozart lingers on the market, they should snap him up.

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