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Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong lashes out about platoon

By Brad Berreman

Feb 27, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (16) throws the bat as he walks during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (16) throws the bat as he walks during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Faced with a diminished role, St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong is not too happy.

On Saturday, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny hinted about a possible platoon at second base. Kolten Wong, Jedd Gyrko and Greg Garcia could all be in the mix in that scenario, and at least one of those guys would not be happy if it came to fruition.

Wong is hitting below .190 this spring, and he just .240 over 121 games with the Cardinals last season. Better play on his part might make the entire platoon possibility irrelevant, but Wong is clearly not thrilled by the idea of a reduced role.

Here’s some of what Wong had to say on Sunday, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"“I don’t think you give somebody a contract for no reason,” Wong said. “When you are given a contract, you are expected to get a chance to work through some things and figure yourself out. Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, all these guys never figured their stuff out until later on down the road. It’s the big leagues. It’s tough, man. For me, the biggest thing is I just need people to have my back. When that comes, it will be good. But, I think right now, it’s just staying with my play, understanding I’m working toward getting myself more consistent, understanding what kind of player I can be. If that’s going to be with another team, so be it.”"

The contract Wong is referring to is the five-year, $25.5 million contract extension he signed with the Cardinals prior to the 2016 season. He quickly walked back his comments about a platoon and wanting to be traded if that is the situation, suggesting he is simply working through things this spring and wants “to be a Cardinal.”

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Wong’s initial comments are out there now, for better or worse and regardless of his effort to retract them. Cardinals’ general manager John Mozeliak may be open to making a deal to shed Wong, with a bit of remorse about a bad investment, so any team that wants a light-hitting, de facto utility man may come calling.

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