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

2. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds definitely did their All-Star shortstop a favor by not saddling him with a qualifying offer. Not extending the offer, though, should not be construed as a lack of interest in a reunion on the part of the Reds. If the price is right, Cincinnati will certainly welcome him back with open arms.

Cincinnati could have found a way to trade Cozart at the deadline in spite of his injuries if they really wanted to try and get some return — no matter how small — for him in his walk year. They did not trade him, and never appeared close to doing so. It was also reported last June that there was mutual interest in working out a long-term deal.

"“I know there’s mutual interest in the future with Zack,” Williams said. “Maybe we can figure out a way to make that happen.” Williams said the two sides have not have substantive conversations, other than gauging Cozart’s openness to the idea of staying in Cincinnati. The Reds shortstop has said many times that he likes playing for the Reds and would love to stick around."

Working against a reunion between Cozart and the Reds is the fact that the team already has much cheaper options for shortstop and second base in Scooter Gennett and Jose Peraza. Gennett is coming off a career year, while the raw Peraza still has plenty of upside at the age of 23. The Reds may have soured on Peraza as a full-time starter after seeing him hit a modest .259/.297/.324 last season. This is a team still in a deep rebuild, however, and it might make more sense to keep giving Peraza time to try and figure it out.