The Mariners have inquired with the Reds about the availability of shortstop Zack Cozart, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark (via Twitter). Seattle does expect Ketel Marte back from the DL somewhat sooner than had initially been feared, he notes, so it doesn’t appear as if Seattle’s need is all that great.
Of course, it’s certainly arguable that the M’s would be wise to pursue an improvement over Marte regardless, as he hasn’t been terribly productive. Though the youngster remains an important future piece, the veteran Cozart has been swinging a better stick and is a top-notch defender.
It’s still unclear whether the Mariners will be willing to part with prospects in order to upgrade in 2016. The team is just two games over .500, and while it doesn’t seem inclined to sell, it may also not go too far in the other direction.
Cozart is controllable for another year, though, so he’d at least have future function — though that’ll also increase the asking price. Stark also suggests that the Mariners are still interested in Jay Bruce, another player with an added season of control, which is contrary to other recent reports.
Id like to see reds try to trade both to Seattle.. O’neil and Torres sounds nice!!
Have to imagine O’Neill won’t be parted with. The M’s aren’t in buy mode. The farm isn’t deep enough to just go for it.
Would*
Walker or Paxton, their 2nd ranked prospect o’neil, and another mid level prospect and they can have them both
id like to get oneil and torres!
Not a chance
Exactly. The Mariners hear that proposal and they laugh and hang up the phone. Not worth trading such important future pieces for guys who won’t push the team to the top.
how about we throw in straily with them two and you just give up lewis??? that better?
Yeah that could work although I would still prefer O’Neill to Lewis, so the deal as now offered from the Reds fans to Mariner fan
Seattle gets:
Jay Bruce
Zack Cozart
Dan Straily
And Cash
Reds get:
Tyler O’Neill
Luis Gohara
Christopher Torres
Jio Orozco
lol that trade is absolutely horrible. Dan Straily is not worth the M’s top prospect, and Walker + O’neill could get a better return than Bruce + Cozart. Walker has a lot of value since he is young, can still get better, is controllable, and the pitching market is pretty weak.
No chance. Dipoto already had deal with a horrible farm in Anaheim. He actually wants to build up the farm, not destroy it.
Good joke
I just suggested something similar on Twitter, basic framework of deal would be Bruce and Cozart for O’Neill and Gohara, maybe another piece goes to Reds and or some money goes to Mariners. The deal makes sense for both teams Reds would get a couple of nice pieces for their rebuild and would give Mariners an excellent lineup, for playoff push and for next year as Bruce and Cozart are not pure rentals.
Kapnation, as a Reds fan, that is a completely acceptable trade
Must be joking.
I was joking about Lewis!! I don’t think they could trade him right now anyways. But either way Seattle isn’t interested in Bruce.
Having a career year, so not surprising.
No thanks to Bruce. Defensively he’s a mess and DH is taken with Cruz. And you can’t trust him to hit with this year’s pace given the last couple seasons he’s had. I like the idea of Cozart however.
bruce was hurt past two years… finally healthy! his d isn’t nearly as bad people are saying…
Outside of LF and 1B, Bruce is having a career worse in UZR and UZR/150.
Defensive metrics are still far from well defined. His defense has taken a hit post-surgery, no doubt. But he’s not nearly as bad as half of season if UZR would suggest.
Bruce is not a bad defender the defensive metrics don’t tell the whole story. He has a rocket arm as proof by having the 4th most OF assists in baseball. A large part of his low defensive rating comes from having Billy Hamilton to his right and playing half his game in a smaller home OF, which lowers his range factor considerably. He may not be a great fielder RF but he is above average or at very least average and does have an elite arm, so with the kind of offense he provides is exceptionally valuable.