ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - While a the St. Louis Cardinals' historic pitcher-catcher combo of Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina continue to be the most-discussed names on its free agent wish list – let's not forget about a back-to-back Gold Glove winner who also may not return.
Kolten Wong, 30, was allowed by the Cardinals to become a free agent after the 2020 season when they declined to pick up his $12.5 million option for 2021. The argument being in a non-COVID-19 world they most likely would have kept him, but no ticket revenue in 2020 has forced the Cardinals to make big cuts.
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MLB insider Jon Morosi tweeted earlier this week that the 2019 and 2020 NL Gold Glove winner at second base and his representation are in discussions with the Cardinals, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies.
But more recently, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Cardinals aren't "actively pursing" Wong.
Wong supplanted himself as 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 that season.
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Last October, after the Cardinals were bounced from the first round of the playoffs, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told media that door will be open to further discussions in bringing Wong back. His $12.5 million salary would have made him the fifth-highest paid second baseman in baseball this year, according to Spotrac.
Some have projected him to sign a two- or three-year deal worth between $7.5 million and $10 million before the 2021 season.
Spring Training games are now less than a month away, so it's no surprise that his market and others are gaining interest from more teams.
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