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ARLINGTON, Texas: What appears to be a bearish and perhaps brutal market for baseball’s free agents in the offseason after the pandemic began on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) when a dozen players were told their contract options had been rejected, among them the second gold glove of the St. Louis Cardinals. point guard Kolten Wong.
Wong, 30, will receive a purchase of $ 1 million. Wong, a 2011 first-round draft pick, made his major league debut in 2013 and spent his first eight seasons with St. Louis. Wong hit. 265 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 53 games during the pandemic-shortened season, helping the Cardinals reach the playoffs for the second year in a row. They were eliminated by San Diego in the first round.
“STL will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never forget all the amazing people who impacted me along the way! Lots of love, ”Wong said Wednesday in an Instagram post.
Many teams are cutting costs after a shortened regular season played without fans due to the new coronavirus. Many teams have already eliminated front office staff and many scouts to cut expenses, not knowing what attendance and income to expect in 2021.
Baseball’s employment contract expires after the 2021 season, putting 2022 at risk of a work stoppage.
Wong won his first Gold Glove last year. He is a finalist again this season, and the winner was announced Tuesday.
John Mozeliak, the Cardinals president of baseball operations, said he spoke with Wong on Wednesday.
“I told him that with some of the uncertainties, we are just not in a position to do that,” Mozeliak said. “We both agreed to keep the door open and as we go through this, it is something that we do not rule out for a future comeback.”
Wong is just one year away from his best season in St. Louis, hitting .285 with 11 homers, 59 RBIs and a career-high 24 steals in 2019. He is a .261 hitter with 53 homers, 281 RBIs and 88 robberies. in 852 career games.
Leaving the possibility of Wong’s return open, Mozeliak mentioned that he gave Tommy Edman a shot at second base.
“Not speaking in absolute terms, not saying anything is safe, but as we get closer to this offseason, it will definitely require some creativity, patience and good timing,” Mozeliak said.
Others cut free included;
—Arizona pitchers Mike Leake ($ 5 million instead of $ 18 million) and Héctor Rondón ($ 500,000 instead of $ 4 million)
—Washington right Anibal Sánchez ($ 2 million purchase instead of $ 12 million salary), outfielder Adam Eaton ($ 1.5 million instead of $ 10.5 million) and infielders Howie Kendrick ($ 2.25 million in instead of $ 6.5 million) and Eric Thames ($ 1 million instead of $ 4 million)
—Colorado first baseman Daniel Murphy ($ 6 million instead of $ 12 million)
—Seattle second baseman Dee Strange-Gordon ($ 1 million instead of $ 14 million)
—New York Mets wide receivers Wilson Ramos ($ 1.5 million instead of $ 10 million) and Robinson Chirinos ($ 1 million instead of $ 6.5 million) and infielder Todd Frazier ($ 1.5 million instead of $ 10 million). $ 5.75 million).
About 50 more players would be eligible for free agency if their options are rejected by Sunday, including Chicago White Sox designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion and left-hander Gio Gonzalez; Cleveland first baseman Carlos Santana, catcher Roberto Pérez and left-hander Brad Hand; Yankees lefties JA Happ and outfielder Brett Gardner; Texas right-hander Corey Kluber; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo; and Pittsburgh right-hander Chris Archer.
Players who are already free agents include catcher JT Realmuto, infielder DJ LeMahieu, pitchers Marcus Stroman and Masahiro Tanaka, and outfielders George Springer and Marcell Ozuna; shortstop Didi Gregorius; and designated hitter Nelson Cruz.
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