Cozart expects to be healthy in offseason

CINCINNATI — Reds shortstop Zack Cozart certainly would have liked to have finished his nice comeback season from reconstructive right knee surgery. Cozart, on the 60-day disabled list with right knee tendinitis, fully expects to be 100 percent when he begins offseason workouts in early November.

What Cozart is less certain about is which team’s uniform he will wear in 2017.

“You know there are going to be rumors,” Cozart said on Sunday. “I dealt with it at the Trade Deadline, and it was weird. Just like with [Jay Bruce], the Reds are all I’ve ever known. Hearing your name in rumors or possible trade scenarios is weird. But I’ve made it clear that I love it here and want to be here. But like with Jay, it’s a business, and decisions have to be made. We’ll see what happens.”

Cozart, 31, is third-year arbitration eligible this winter after he earned $2.93 million this season. He will be one year away from being eligible for free agency. The Reds have Jose Peraza needing a spot to play every day next season, but Peraza can also play four positions.

As someone who experienced the postseason with Cincinnati in 2012-13, followed by three losing seasons, Cozart would like to be around for the club’s next …

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