Kolten

Wong

Wong, 33, was signed to a minor-league contract in early April after he was released by the Orioles before the start of the season. The 33-year-old hit .271 with a .722 OPS with Triple-A Reno. Once one of the better second baseman in baseball, Wong’s scuffles over the last year-plus now have him looking for a new employer, and his days of fantasy relevance appear to be over.

The 33-year-old infielder was cut loose by the Orioles at the end of spring training and it took him a couple of weeks to find an opportunity that suits him. He’ll report to Triple-A Reno to begin his tenure with the Diamondbacks.

Wong struggled with the Dodgers and Mariners last year and was hoping to join the Orioles as a backup infielder. However, he was informed that he wasn’t going to make the team, and Baltimore granted his release. The veteran could land with another team within the next couple of days.

It’s been interesting to see the Orioles collect all of their infielders (Nick Maton, Diego Castillo, Tyler Nevin, briefly Livan Soto and now Wong) they’d seem to have absolutely no use for with all of their prospects ready to contribute and Ramón Urias and Jorge Mateo still around as insurance. Perhaps they’ll trade either Urias or Mateo prior to Opening Day, but even if they do that, they’d hardly seem to need this much depth. Wong might be nice to have around as a fallback if Jackson Holliday gets sent down, but that alone still probably wouldn’t make him the best second base option on the roster. The 33-year-old hit .183/.256/.263 in 250 PA for the Mariners and Dodgers last season.

There are no specifics to the Kolten Wong rumors, but he remains one of the top infielders available in free agency, especially with Anderson and Urshela off the market. Wong was acquired at the trade deadline by the Dodgers last season and had an offensive resurgence, posting an .853 OPS in 20 games played. His final stretch with Los Angeles could be a difference-maker if he is to sign with a team this spring because he posted a disappointing .165/.241/.227 line with the Mariners before he was traded.

It’ll be Wong getting the nod as a reserve infielder for the Dodgers over Amed Rosario, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Guardians. The only other surprise here is that soft-tossing lefty Ryan Yarbrough and veteran reliever Yency Almonte have been left off in favor of rookies Emmet Sheehan and Michael Grove, who figure to pitch in long relief situations against Arizona.

The 32-year-old second baseman was signed to a minor league contract in mid-August after being released by the Mariners. In his five games in the minors with the Dodgers he hit .438 (7-for-16) with a homer and six RBI. At a minimum, he should provide the Dodgers with a quality late-game defensive replacement and pinch-runner.

Wong signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers earlier this month and will get the call to the majors with rosters expanding to bolster Los Angeles’ infield depth.

Wong was released by the Mariners earlier this month after posting an unfathomable .165/.241/.227 batting line over 216 plate appearances. The 32-year-old has the track record to suggest he’s capable of much better and makes sense as a depth addition for LA.

Wong went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment earlier this week and will head out to test the free agent waters. The 32-year-old veteran second baseman batted a calamitous 165/.241/.227 with two homers and 19 RBI in 216 plate appearances this season in his Mariners debut.