Cardinals reach five-year deal with Kolten Wong

Making a long-term commitment to Kolten Wong as their second baseman, the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $25.5-million, five-year contract with the 25-year-old.

Wong gets $1.25 million this year, $2.5 million in 2017, $4 million in 2018, $6.5 million in 2019 and $10.25 million in 2020. St. Louis has a $12.5-million option for 2021 with a $1-million buyout.

Wong would have been eligible for salary arbitration next winter and for free agency after the 2019 World Series.

“Now that I kind of have some kind of security, I understand that I can go out there and do different things and not worry about basically trying to play a good game every single game of spring training,” Wong said.

“I can go in there and focus on certain parts of my game that I really want to work on and really hone in on those things.

Etc.

New York Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson worked out by himself while dealing with an eye problem. Granderson has pinkeye and said he’s scheduled to visit a doctor Thursday. He took batting practice, threw and did conditioning drills. Granderson is not on the travel roster for the Mets’ first exhibition game Thursday in Viera against the Washington Nationals, but Manager Terry Collins said he “will be ready for Friday.” ...

Royals catcher Salvador Perez is donating $1 million to the Urban Youth Academy, a 21-acre development of playing fields and other park amenities near downtown Kansas City, Mo. The news came one day after Perez signed a $52.5 million, five-year contract that will keep him with Kansas City through the 2021 season. It also coincided with a City Council committee vote to endorse more than $2 million in city funds toward the $7 million first phase. Other funding has been supplied by the new MLB-MLBPA joint youth development initiative.