COZART...REDS MAY GET NOTHING FOR HIM

[CJD]

(07-24-2017, 10:05 AM)Yojimbo Wrote: I've seen this thought too. Why couldn't he play 2nd or 3rd for a team?

He probably could.

The problem is the Reds have never used him at those positions because, prior to this year, his bat was not good enough to play at third base and probably wasn't good enough to play at second base, especially with Phillips' vastly superior bat holding that spot down.

Shortstops and 2nd Basemen need the most range and athleticism among infielders. And Shortstops need more arm strength than 2nd basemen due to the throw over to first base being further from the left side of the infield.

This has, historically, given the shortstop the most leeway, among position players, to be worse offensively. You see it in prospects such as Alfredo Rodriguez, whose bat would not play at any other position than shortstop because of how bad he is at the plate.

For this same reason, shortstops with offensive potential often are over drafted, because it is so rare to find a player who can both hit well from the Shortstop position and also field the position well. Since 2004, the number 1 overall pick has been a pitcher 6 times, an outfielder twice, a catcher once and a shortstop 6 times.

I think Cozart is having an extreme outlier of a year and it seems the majors, as a whole, are waiting for him to descend back into his former self, which is also lowering his value.

I hope we can get something valuable in return for him this year. But I think expecting anything more than a fringe top 100 prospect would be foolish. I foresee a Todd Frazier-esque deal (one good prospect capable of starting within a few years (Peraza), one prospect who has attractive traits but, due to other deficiencies, is a long shot to become an everyday player (Schebler)) being the absolute ceiling of his potential, with the Chapman trade (one capable prospect with no real special traits (Rookie Davis) and a bunch of minor league fodder (Jagielo, Renda, Cotham)) being a more realistic haul.