Detroit Tigers: 3 realistic free agents to pursue

Kolten Wong could give the Detroit Tigers second base help

The excitement level drops quite a bit for the second name on the list: Kolten Wong.

Wong could give the Tigers a second baseman for a couple of years, allowing them to move Niko Goodrum around the field as kind of a superutility player who can play both infield and outfield positions.

The price would likely be right, too.

The St. Louis Cardinals turned down a $12.5 million option on Wong earlier this offseason, and Wong reportedly turned down a multiyear offer from the Cardinals after that, per Bob Elliott. Figures were not mentioned.

MLBTR projected his contract at two years, $16 million. The reader prediction at FanGraphs came in a little higher on both figures, three years and a little shy of $30 million.

Tim Dierkes wrote:

"Wong shines defensively, picking up a Gold Glove last year and showing strong marks in UZR, DRS, and outs above average.  Still, I’m not convinced defense-first, second-base only players like Wong or Cesar Hernandez will do well in free agency."

Although Wong was not projected to the Tigers, they were among the teams listed as possible fits.

Wong was worth 1.3 fWAR in 2020 and is projected to be worth 1.8 fWAR in 2021. His above-average glove could be helpful to the Tigers’ young pitching staff.

His below-average bat (a career .261/.333/.384 slashline or 96 wRC+) isn’t going to help much, but it probably won’t hurt greatly either.

A three-year deal could help the Tigers transition with a veteran presence up the middle to go alongside Castro, with the knowledge that the bigger bats will be rising to the big leagues by 2022.