3:25pm: Seattle didn’t pull off any deals, Dutton tweets, so evidently the sides were not able to line up on Cozart.
9:05am: The Mariners and Reds are closing in on a trade involving Zack Cozart, reports Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune (on Twitter). While the trade isn’t done yet, both sides are confident that a deal can be worked out, according to Dutton, who notes that talks are still fluid at this time. ESPN’s Jayson Stark reported last week that Seattle had asked the Reds about Cozart.
Cozart, 30, is one of the game’s premier defenders at shortstop and has also substantially elevated his offensive game over the past couple of seasons, hitting a combined .263/.314/.461 with 24 homers over 615 plate appearances. He’s earning a reasonable $2.925MM salary in 2016 and is controllable through the 2017 season via arbitration.
The Mariners have a young shortstop option in Ketel Marte that looked to have cemented himself at the position with a strong rookie campaign in 2015, but the 22-year-old’s bat has taken a huge step backwards in 2016. After a .283/.351/.402 slash in 247 plate appearances last year, Marte has batted a mere .273/.299/.358 in a larger sample of 300 PAs in 2016. Beyond that, Marte has missed time this season with a sprained thumb and, more recently, a bout of mononucleosis (for which he is currently on the disabled list). Adding Cozart to the fold wouldn’t necessarily preclude Marte from emerging as Seattle’s primary shortstop down the line, but it could relegate him to a utility role next year before giving him another crack at a more regular role in 2018.
From the Reds’ vantage point, moving Cozart could open up an avenue for prospect Jose Peraza to at last get regular at-bats. Cincinnati picked up Peraza in the Todd Frazier deal this offseason, but he’s played sparingly of late while spending more time on the bench than the club would presumably like for a piece that could be a long-term asset in their lineup. The 22-year-old speedster has 93 plate appearances in 33 games since being recalled from Triple-A back on June 15.
Great news for the Reds, opening an everyday job for Jose Peraza. Hopefully the return is appealing.
I have trouble even venturing an educated guess as to what that return would be, though…
Pure speculations but the Reds have been asking for hitting prospects. I would like to say it would be Lewis or O Neill but realistically it isnt happening. Reds may also look for some arms for the bullpen for the next couple years. With Cozart having a cheap contract with decent production and another year of control before FA, I would guess I would say Liberato and Altavilla.
Peraza would be great if he took a walk or got hit by a pitch or somthing
I had hoped this one was going to happen. Nice.
I don’t trust Dipoto with these types of deals. He almost always overpays which is great news if you’re a Reds fan.
And the Reds almost always get shorted in trades lol maybe this one will be a fair deal then
Not true. Chapman trade a noteable exception, Frazier trade too. Reds have made lots of successful trades, including those of Cueto, Leake (Duvall+P), Alfredo Simon (Suarez), Mat Latos (DeSclafani), and others. In recent years they’ve been pretty lucky in trades, finding value out of nowhere.
I think the Frazier trade – Peraza and Schebler – could eventually be received better than it is today. Schebler is having a great year in AAA, despite a rough first month.
If Bruce if traded today then Schebler should get his opportunity over the next two months.
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This.
The Reds FO lately has gotten fleeced in offseason trades, but they did pretty well at the deadline last year so who knows? The problem for the Reds is that they have a lot of prospects now but few that are considered can’t miss elite prospects and they are not likely to change that calculation with Cozart. Most likely they open a spot to see if Peraza is any good and get another organizational 10-25 level prospect in return.
Seattle is reportedly thinking of including Luiz Gohara which is a mariners top 10 prospect and just 20 years old LHP starter . This season he is tearing it up I think he is 6-0 with 2.00 ERA
In RHP Nick Neidert and LHP Luiz Gohara the Mariners have some interesting young arms they could include.
Tyler O’Neill is far too much for Cozart, Alex Jackson may be too. Drew Jackson doesn’t seem particularly desirable. 1Bs Vogelbach and DJ Pederson just aren’t fit for the Reds, regardless of availability.
Maybe 24 year old LHP Ryan Yarbrough can be included.
Drew Jackson doesn’t seem particularly desirable? Here’s to hoping the Reds front office feels the same way, although I can’t imagine Dipoto parting with him.
Blackburn and torres for cozart
OK what am I missing here? Mariners are trying to replace a guy who is hitting .273/.299/.358 with a guy who is hitting .263/.314/.461 with 24 homers (in a hitter friendly park). Is this a defense issue?
Honestly don’t know either player all that well so this is a serious question.
Cozart is an elite defender and is rock solid at the plate with decent power and plate discipline. He’s a perfect mid season rental for a team that needs a middle infield upgrade. But he is 30 so he will probably decline in the near future.
Thanks… wouldn’t his numbers decline playing in Seattle too? Looking at the basic numbers I’m not seeing a huge difference is all. But I’m not looking at defensive metrics so maybe there’s a lot of a difference there?
Probably some of HRs he hits in GABP would become doubles or outs in a bigger stadium. Although his SLG is higher away from home and his HRs are equal. He is 3rd in the NL in dWAR right now.
Marte can make the great play, but not the routine play, and his obp is really low, I think what they will do is when he gets healthy they will send him to AAA until September, I’m pretty sure Cozart is the opposite of Marte at short, and his offense would probably help the Mariners more than Marte is by driving in runs because right now we can’t do that.
The mariners shortstop is injured and he has no power. His numbers are down from last year and they want him to get back on track while cozart takes over
How about Ariel Miranda? Then it would just seem like Miley for Cozart
As a Seattle Mariners fan, I really hope this trade doesn’t go through. Sure, They’re right on the edge of the playoff race and they have a “chance”. But I’ve watched them everyday and since June 1 they haven’t played that well.. Whether they make this trade or not I expect them to finish about where they are now.
For 1, Ketel Marte is far from the problem. And I personally think Zack Cozart is overrated. He’s not much of an upgrade, if any over Marte. And definitely not enough to put them in the playoffs.
Their problem has been pitching, especially Starting Pitching. Inconsistency, injuries, and inability to go deep into games. And because of the starting pitching struggles, it’s made it hard on the bullpen. Bullpen has been inconsistent also with lots of homeruns. Cishek has been shaky. Benoit was terrible. injuries also.
Jerry Dipoto needs to be patient. Build for next season. Please don’t give up any prospects either.
Agreed. Cosart is 30. Hitting .266 with 15 hrs this season. He definitely isn’t worth the M’s giving up a player like Tyler O’neill. If O’neill is dealt for a one-hit wonder like Cosart, I will lose faith in this organization.
You left out the elite defense at shortstop as well.
If the M’s valued elite defense more than offensive production they wouldn’t have Nelson Cruz starting in right field, and they’d go sign Brendan Ryan.
Totally agree, but I think Marte could learn from a veteran presence at short. Seattle hasn’t had anything like that or any real consistency at short. Marte is the future and I hate to see him be the piece that brings Cozart to Seattle. Hopefully we can deal two low level non impact prospects and get a little more consistent at short. As far as pitching goes it’s a crap shoot and without a massive turnaround we wouldn’t go far even if we made the playoffs. Honestly I believe we need a manager who is going to instill a winning attitude into this team I.e. like Madden in Chicago. Add someone like him instant turnaround in culture. I don’t see Servais being that guy.
Madden’s don’t grow on trees. Who exactly do you think we just find to turnaround this team? Servais has done a complete 180 on the clubhouse culture since he got here. The culture isn’t the problem. The players have all mentioned throughout the year how much better the culture is and how much fun they are having with this group of guys. Things they haven’t said in YEARS.
I’ve heard the same said about the last 3 managers. What players say to the media vs reality is often very hazy. While I think you’re right about Servais being a good guy, this is his first turn at the helm.. Probably could have said that in my comment above. No Maddens don’t grow on trees, wasn’t suggesting they do, but it would be nice to have a manager with that immediate presence. I’ve long suffered through this organizations bumblings and good intentions and I think it’s time to make something out of it. So if Servais is the right guy great! But honestly I’m not holding my breath until the product produces.
Really… you heard that about guys like Wedge and McClendon? From who? Because everything I heard is that it was much of the same. Servais has actually instilled a new attitude and culture.
See any fluff piece written about what players think of their managers and clubhouse culture… They all say this is great, it’s working, but the reality is that it’s not. I didn’t say that players are lying about it this time, but if if it doesn’t work out you get a completely different story after the fact. The players do seem a lot happier under the new regime this time around and I think it does start at the top with Dipoto and the fact that Jack Z is gone (we all know about that guy). Great thing about our organization is that we’ve got baseball people running it now. I just am tired of seeing failed “experiment” after failed experiment ruining the clubs chance for success. I didn’t say the culture is bad this time I’m just not naive about it, I’m an m’s fan to the core and I’m used to the disappointment.
I agree about veteran presence, I just don’t want it to be at the expense of any top 20-25 prospects. And I’m fine with Servais. They need to give him 3 years or so. Need continuity with the front office and staff.
Dipoto is anything but patient. He will sell the farm if it gets his team to the wild card.
You do realize that Texas will still be there next season and might even be better and the young Astros will still be young and have 1 more season of experience next year, right? Everyone always forgets when planning for the future that other teams will improve too. Not to mention the fact that the A’s could improve too and the Angels might finally kill the demon that is hurting their pitchers. The future might not be nearly as bright for the M’s as you think.
@Deke, you also need to take into account that Marte is currently on the DL with mono, and has lost a ton of weight. I don’t see Marte getting back to full health this season. Instead of comparing Marte’s numbers Cozart, use Marte’s current replacements numbers, O’Malley/Sardenas.
Oh I didn’t realize he was on the DL. Thanks to all the Mariners fans for clearing up the details, when you don’t follow a team it’s hard to know exactly what the thinking is behind a trade so you all really helped and in a constructive polite way. Appreciate it!
O’Malley is hitting .276 the last 30 games. Only 2 errors all season. Can play multiple positions.
Not too bad for a backup. If he can hold that until Marte gets back in 10-14 days or so, I’d Prefer that over giving up prospects.
No way is Cozart even close to the value of O’Neill Gohara or Lewis. He is a 2 year player who is not that great if an upgrade over what we have. Even though Marte is hurt I hate seeing giving up anything I’d value for a lost cause this year. We are not making the playoffs this year way too many holes to fill and even with O’Malley and Sardinas as fill ins we have bigger holes. I still think they should sell guys that have no long term value and keep anyone that has value for down the road.
Exactly what I think. Sell guys like Lind and Aoki. Give Lee the everyday 1st base the rest of the season so you know if he’s worth resigning and maybe play Heredia more to replace Aoki’s playing time and see what he can do.
If they do that and maybe sign 2-3 free agents n the offseason they could be positioned better next season.
Walt Jocketty makes Jim Bowden look like Branch Rickey. Some days I swear Jocketty is still on the Cardinals payroll.
Very disappointing that the trade doesn’t go through. Jose Peraza remains blocked at SS, 2b, and CF for the remainder of the season, with Dilson Herrera ADDED to the mix at 2b.
I am making a sad face right now.
Servais looks to be doing fine, this team is much better than I thought they would be even with the injuries. As for the veteran presence you talk about you think there is a better one than Cano? A show I saw last year when they were talking about Marte they said his favorite player was Cano. He tried to play like him and they finally convinced him he was no Cano. It looks to me when he makes an error on an easy play he is still trying to make throws like Cano does. I can live with a couple errors that will eventually go away with maturity for the plays he makes that make you go no way. I can also live with the lack of power and walks that people complain about for the bunts and speed he adds to the game. All the taking heads and writers and look at stats and say his UZR is bad but the eye ball test does not show that. He is young will make mistakes and needs to learn. The best teacher will not be sitting I the bench watching a guy play it will be playing next to your favorite player and listening to the advice he gives you. Especially since they get along good.
Last time I check Cano was still a second baseman. Short and second are two very different positions. Yeah Cano has been around, but seeing a guy play your position to perfection is invaluable. Who cares if your idol is next you? And stats what are those compared to playing the position?