Cardinals not exercising Wong’s option

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Yes, I’m just as shocked as you are.

The Cardinals have decided to decline the option for second baseman Kolten Wong, reports Derrick S. Goold from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Instead of the $12.5M option, he’ll be receiving $1M buyout. Now, he’s single and ready to mingle.

The 30-year old slashed .265/.350/.675 this year with 5 stolen bases and a home run. On top being constantly being a solid, the Gold Glove winner would be a steal in the free agent market for anything less than $12M. Wong signed a five-year, $25.5 million extension during spring training in 2016. In a world not ravaged by a pandemic, resigning Wong would have been a no-brainer. But with no fans in the stands and revenue taking a huge hit, billionaires are willing to cut corners where they can.

Tommy Edman is the potential replacement for second base incase Wong and the Cardinals can’t come to an agreement down the line.

Wong is one of 147 free agents who were released the moment the World Series ended, along with fellow Cardinals Adam Wainwright, Matt Wieters, and Brad Miller.