The Mariners have designated second baseman Kolten Wong for assignment, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. Wong’s stay in DFA limbo could be a short one, as the Red Sox have interest in a trade for the veteran infielder.
Wong, 32, came over to Seattle in the swap that sent Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro to Milwuakee this past offseason. The Mariners acquired him hoping he could solidify second base for them, but things didn’t go according to plan as Wong posted by far the worst season of his career in 2023. In 216 trips to the plate this season, Wong has batted a brutal .165/.241/.227 that checks in 64% worse than league average by measure of wRC+. That unplayable offense has been paired with below average defense at the keystone, combining to create a package worth -1.0 fWAR in 67 games with Seattle this season.
Prior to this disastrous season in Seattle, Wong had spent the past nine season as a quality, major league regular at second base. After being drafted 22nd overall by the Cardinals in the 2011 draft, Wong made his MLB debut in a 32-game stint with St. Louis during the 2013 season. He became a fixture at second base in 2014 and would remain there for seven seasons, slashing .263/.336/.389 (98 wRC+) over that time while winning the NL Gold Glove at second base in both 2019 and 2020.
Following the 2020 campaign, Wong tested free agency for the first time in his career and landed with the Brewers on a two-year deal. His defense took a step back during his time in Milwaukee, as he rated as roughly average in 2021 and landed in just the third percentile among qualified fielders by measure of Outs Above Average last year. That slip in terms of defensive value was made up for by improved performance at the plate, as Wong slashed .262/.337/.439 with a wRC+ of 113 in 989 plate appearances during his two seasons with Milwaukee.
While Wong has struggled badly in Seattle, that extensive track record as an above-average regular has evidently caught the attention of the Red Sox, who have struggled to get production out of their middle infield with shortstop Trevor Story having missed the entire season to this point. They’ve relied on a variety of options up the middle this season, including Enrique Hernandez, Yu Chang, Christian Arroyo, Pablo Reyes, and Enmanuel Valdez. As for the Mariners, Dylan Moore, Jose Caballero, and the newly-acquired Josh Rojas are among the club’s options at the keystone going forward.
The always popular lose-lose trade
Should’ve happened in May!
Because of course they are
Sox need 15 middle infielders and eleven pitchers. That is the Chaim way!!
The RS have the same number of MI’s and pitchers as every other team.
It was a joke… the numbers add up to 26.
Good luck, Kolten! Sorry it didn’t work out in Seattle. Wish you all the best in the future!
We don’t need anymore ultra light-hitting 2Bs. Story will be back any day now to take over short and then we have Arroyo, Chang, and Reyes to play second when he comes back
@Redsoxx_62, True.
Well, tonight we Mariners fans will get to see how one house-cleaning trade worked out.
Rojas and Conzone are both in tonight’s game.
I applaud Dipoto’s solution; now let’s see if it succeeds.
Go Mariners.
No thanks!
Just when it seemed Boston might not make a move lol
Bloom needs to go
For showing “interest”. Lol.
Wtf…
Hey Red Sox: 2 Wongs dont make a Right.
Lol. Bloom back to being Bloom! So much for the good week last week!
For real!
Mariners chances of making the playoff just improved 6%.
Disappointed it didn’t work out for Wong in Seattle. I’m rooting for him to pull out a few more productive seasons.
Wong, like Pollock, just wasn’t cutting it.
Mariners are cleaning house.
Mariners games will be very interesting from now on out, with Wild Card spot in reach.
@AL34, Stevil is right.
You kids these days don’t seem able to understand or respect much of anything.
Another player about to be released, right up Bloom’alley. More garbage!
There is nothing I despise more on this site than fans referring to players as ‘garbage’.
The fact that a player can even make it MLB is far more impressive than your wildest dreams.
Respect.
I dunno man, my dreams can get pretty wild!
The Wonger will be an absolute superstar hitting at Fenway.
Maybe time for a Cardinals reunion with Donovan’s injury and all their newly opened roster spots
Every other team in the running has done something and here are the Sox needing some depth in SP, but interested in infield depth. Isn’t that part of the reason they moved on from kike? Someone had to go. Some of these SP has moved for not much, I don’t understand.
Way to go Bloom! His .165 batting average should be a big help to this team. Please pick up someone better or please make a trade for some pitching help or a better player.
AL! Welcome back! We missed you when we won 16 out of 21.
To Wong Foo, thanks for everything!
Kolten, don’t get picked off at first again…
Well that in itself will get him drinks for free if Boston picks him up….
I’ve been waiting all day for the moves to start and Bloom delivers another dud for our trade deadline.
Pick a direction… buy or sell. It isn’t a difficult concept.
The trade will have to have happened already because I believe this was a hard deadline for any players that were on 40-man rosters this season.
So, no trade happened. Yet, people are pretending it did and are getting very upset about it. Bloom Derangement Syndrome at its finest.
That’s it, I’m done. I’ve written the note and slipped it in my pocket that reads
“I’m sorry, but Chaim did this”
And with that, I wish you all well because I am now jumping out of a f’ng window
Shocker, shopping at the bargain rack!! This group has lost the pulse of it fans. I wonder why the Red Sox are #4 out Boston sports. Embarrassing!!
Only the Red Sox, who think the world of Yu Chang and his .151 BA, could see any value in Wong. And it isn’t even as if Wong’s defense is what it used to be – he’s now a hack in the field AND the plate. I’d rather see them bring in Rougned Odor, and I am NO fan of his.
who think the world of Yu Chang and his .151 BA, could see any value in Wong.
==================
Chang is primarily a SS, and Wong is a 2B. They aren’t interchangeable, And no trade took place. Frackin nimrod.
The Mariners finally did the right thing with Wong!
Ballgawd – I’m amazed nobody posted about two Wongs yet.
Way to go Bloom !!! Did not trade anyone and picked up no one! Another Bloom mystery trade deadline line last years questionable trades and then keep everyone and loose Eovaldi, Martinez, and Boggaerts to free agency for nothing. Please Henry pleases please get a major league GM who knows what he is doing and not afraid to trade prospects.
You have to say this Al34… he’s consistent… I know your frustration but this from a guy who still roots for Brais… and was pissed with Nomar leaving and our best pickup in 18 was some bum named Pearce…
How loose is Eovaldi?
Just in… Redsox to bring in Gene Gene the dancing machine!!!
I am old enough to understand that. Lol
*GONG!*
Bloom picked up Urias from the Brewers who is hitting a solid .145!!!!! We’re back baby!!!! Way to go Chaim Bloom !!!! We are playoff bound !!!!
FINALLY!!!!!! Good riddance!!! I’ve been waiting patiently for this for the past 2+ months!
This years acquisitions were a real disaster. These players were reclamation projects. Sometimes these things work out, Can you tell I’m I’m being generous? But then why take these chances while being a playoff contending team. It smacks a budget minded move which a lot of us are not happy with. It’s for sure Dipoto does not like dealing with the FA. market but then if trades are your preference why not make smart trades? You know what? Are we still a rebuilding club? So how many years does this continue? Trading players without the benefit of progress is wasteful. Some teams those who prefer to work on a budget and are successful have a razor thin margin of playing winning baseball. How many teams can you name? I’m feeling all the more like were trading just for the sake of trading anymore.