The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to one-year deals with shortstop Zack Cozart and Billy Hamilton, avoiding arbitration.
The club did not disclose the terms of the deals. According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Cozart will earn $5.325 million in 2017, nearly doubling his $2.925 million salary in 2016. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that Hamilton's contract is worth $2.625 million, up from $570,000 last season.
Cozart, 31, slashed .252/.308/.425 with a career-high 16 homers and 50 RBIs in 121 games for the Reds last season. He missed nearly half of Cincinnati's games after the All-Star break due to injuries and played just eight games in September before knee tendinitis ended his season.
Hamilton, 26, finished 2016 with a .260/.321/.343 slash line to go along with 58 stolen bases in 66 attempts. He batted .293 with a .369 on-base percentage after the All-Star break to win back the leadoff spot but was also hampered by injuries throughout the season. A strained left oblique ended his year on Sept. 4.
The Reds also agreed to terms with pitchers Tony Cingrani and Blake Wood.
