A pandemic-shortened, fan-less season has, as expected, erased any hopes of a normal offseason. With the exception of the Steve Cohen Mets and a few of the usual suspects, most teams are expected to be quiet in free agency.
This bleak outlook has made free-agent bargain hunting more important than ever. Here are five players for teams on a tightened budget to target this winter.
Kolten Wong, 2B
It was somewhat surprising that the Cardinals declined to pick up Wong’s $12.5 million option for next season. He was on his way to winning a second consecutive Gold Glove and has been the model for all that this organization does well—he makes contact, runs the bases well and plays great defense.