ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The St. Louis Cardinals decision to not pick up Kolten Wong's option for the 2021 season wasn't a signal that they don't want the Gold Glove second baseman. It just wasn't the price they wanted to pay.
A new report from Radio.com Sports MLB insider Jon Heyman confirms that the Cardinals still have interest in Wong returning to St. Louis this season.
Wong is coming off his second year in a row with a Gold Glove Award at second base. He would have been paid $12.5 million if St. Louis had picked up his 2021 option, which would have made him the fifth-highest paid second baseman in baseball, according to Spotrac.
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The 30-year-old supplanted himself has the leadoff hitter for St. Louis in 2020, with a .350 on-base percentage and .675 OPS. Those ranks were eighth and 13th respectively among all MLB players at his position.
St. Louis ranked in the bottom third of MLB teams in batting average, runs scored and OPS last season. The decision to not immediately bring back Wong seems to be one led by the loss of revenue due to COVID-19 and possibly remaining flexible to add some offense in 2021.
St. Louis president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has made it clear from the day they parted way with Wong that they're open to bringing him back.
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Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported last month that since the Cardinals declined his option on Oct. 28, "Wong has heard from at least a half dozen teams with interest." Goold added that the Los Angeles Angels are one of the teams known to have contacted Wong's representatives.
Though Wong did tell Goold that he "absolutely" would listen if the Cardinals reache out in an attempt to re-sign him, the second baseman also called the organization's decision to decline his option "such a punch in the gut." It can sometimes be difficult to return to a team that only wants you at a price that suits them, even if you never wanted to leave.
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