Wong becomes free agent as Cardinals decline option

The St. Louis Cardinals declined their option on Kolten Wong on Wednesday, making the Gold Glove second baseman a free agent.

Wednesday was the deadline for the Cardinals to pick up his $12.5 million option.

Though John Mozeliak, the club’s president of baseball operations, said both sides would keep the lines of communication open, the move signals that the team will be watching its expenditures carefully as it prepares for another season that could be heavily affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

At this point, Mozeliak said, Tommy Edman looms as St. Louis’ starting second baseman.

Wong won his first Gold Glove in 2019 after years of knocking on the door, and he again is a finalist for the award in 2020. At the plate, he batted .265 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 181 at-bats in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Wong, 30, joins catcher Yadier Molina, pitcher Adam Wainwright, catcher Matt Wieters and utilityman Brad Miller as Cardinals free agents.