Reds shopping Cozart after failed deadline trade

The Cincinnati Reds are once again trying to find a trade partner for shortstop Zack Cozart.

They'll also hope to get the deal processed before running out of time as was the case this summer.

With the winter meetings less than two weeks away, general manager Dick Williams acknowledged that a number of teams have already expressed interest in Cozart, who's projected to earn $4.7 million in his final season of arbitration eligibility.

"It's a little early to tell whether the level of interest is appropriate for his value," Williams told Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "We've been in discussions. Obviously there hasn't been anything completed. We still place a pretty high value on Zack and his ability to contribute. The good thing is with his contract and his reasonable cost, there's no need to complete a trade."

The Reds had a trade in place with the Seattle Mariners at the non-waiver trade deadline in August, but the deal never received league approval after missing the cut-off time by a few minutes.

The free-agent shortstop market is devoid of talent, which will likely raise Cozart's value, even with one year remaining on his deal. The 31-year-old was limited to 121 games last season due to a knee injury, and hit .252/.308/.425 with 16 home runs and 28 doubles.