Free Agent Poll: Kolten Wong

I had a nice couple of days awhile from the world, wandering around Banff and area and then had a retail therapy day. I made it through two whole days without turning on the computer, though there was a fair bit of following twitter to check on the election (but not as obsessively as I had been). Anyway.....

I appropriated an idea from Lone Star Ball. It isn’t the first time I’ve stolen from them. The idea is to go through some of the top free agents, use the contract FanGraphs suggests they will get and have a poll asking if we would like to sign him for that amount.

Kolten Wong is #9 on Keith Law’s list of top free agents, but way back at #26 on FanGraphs list.

Craig Edwards feels that Kolten will get a two-year, $15 million contract, earning an average of $7.5 million a year, roughly what Minor Leaguer makes.

The Cardinals decided not to pick up his $12.5 option for next season. Without Covid, I’m thinking they would have picked up that option without even thinking about it, but we live him unusual times.

Wong didn’t have a good 2020 season with the bat, hitting .265/.350/.326. 2019 was a fair bit better, .285/.361/.423 with 11 home runs (and 24 steals). Over the past four years, he has had fWAR totals of 2.2, 2.8, 3.7, and 1.3.

Much of Wong’s value comes from his glove. He won the Gold Glove the past two seasons and the Fielding Bible award the last three seasons. He led second basemen in UZR/150 in 2019.

Kolten turned 30 a month ago, so a two-year contract should expire before he loses a step on defense. I’m all for getting an excellent glove or two up the middle. That Wong gets on base and can steal the odd base, I look at that as a bonus. He’d be a heck of an upgrade on Jonathan Villar.

I will admit to being a fan, I’ve often traded for him when playing OOTP. I tend to go for guys who get on base. And I like defense up the middle, so Kolten is one of my favorite trade targets.

But then there are many other good middle infielders among those looking for a free-agent contract this winter.