Report: Cozart 'highly unlikely' to sign extension with Reds

Zack Cozart's career season doesn't appear to be bringing him that extension just yet.

The possibility of Cozart signing an extension with the Cincinnati Reds, the only team he's ever known, appears "highly unlikely" at this time, sources told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Despite Cozart's surprising breakout season, his trade market appears to be limited, Rosenthal added, leaving open the possibility that Cincinnati might watch the 31-year-old walk out the door for nothing this winter.

Reds president of baseball operations Dick Williams revealed in June that both sides were open to negotiating an extension.

Related: Reds, Cozart have mutual interest in extension

Cozart came into the 2017 season with a reputation as a good-field, no-hit shortstop thanks to his career .674 OPS over his first six big-league seasons. But something changed this year: Cozart's on pace to shatter virtually all of his previous career bests offensively, as he's slashing .321/.400/.566 with 11 homers, 20 doubles, and 36 walks; in addition, his 3.3 WAR ranks third among big-league shortstops this year, behind only Corey Seager and Carlos Correa.

That production earned Cozart both his first-ever All-Star appearance earlier this month as the NL's starting shortstop, and a new pet donkey from teammate Joey Votto.

Cincinnati nearly traded Cozart to Seattle at last year's deadline, but he remained in the Queen City after the trade fell through at the last minute for unknown reasons.