St. Louis Cardinals could bring one of their own back
By David Hill
For all the concern about a pair of franchise icons returning to the St. Louis Cardinals, bringing their starting second baseman back could have a bigger impact.
There is a definite focus when it comes to the St. Louis Cardinals and free agency. The biggest question involves when the team will bring back two franchise icons – Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright. Both players want to return to St. Louis, and the team wants to bring back their ‘legacy players,’ but nothing has happened to this point.
That does not mean that all is quiet in free agency for the Cardinals. The team is hoping to bring Kolten Wong back despite having declined his team option earlier in the offseason.
For the Cardinals, it is a matter of finding a price point that they would be comfortable with. They had declined his option due to the current economic landscape, not due to any dissatisfaction with his production.
Wong is not exactly going to make anyone forget about the great hitters in baseball history, but he has been a respectable bat at the keystone. He has produced a solid .261/.333/.384 batting line in his 3044 major league plate appearances, hitting 124 doubles and 53 homers. Wong has displayed excellent contact skills, drawing 233 walks with just 463 strikeouts.
However, Wong truly makes his impact with the glove. A two time defending Gold Glove winner, he has saved 35 runs at second, establishing himself as one of the top defensive options at the position.
For Cardinals fans, and for nostalgic purposes, bringing back the likes of Wainwright and Molina may appear to be far more pressing. But Wong has been a solid option at second over the past eight years, providing decent offense with an excellent glove. His presence in the middle of the infield could make a bigger impact than it would seem.
The St. Louis Cardinals would like to bring Kolten Wong back. Doing so could make a difference in their fortunes in the coming year.