An MRI today revealed that Cubs shortstop Javier Baez has a hairline fracture in his left thumb, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN. He’ll visit a specialist on Monday for further evaluation. Though the Cubs have yet to release a timeline for his return, it’s possible that this could mean the end of the season for the star infielder.
Baez has missed the last four games after suffering the injury while sliding into second base on September 1. Initial X-rays came back negative and Baez sought to return to the lineup on Thursday, but the persistence of discomfort during batting practice forced him to sit out as the team scheduled a follow-up MRI. Saturday night’s matchup with the Brewers will mark the fifth consecutive game without Baez in the lineup.
Though any injury this late in the season spells trouble for a playoff-hopeful club, this feels especially devastating for the Cubs. Baez has rightfully garnered a reputation as the lifeblood of the Cubs, not only as a mainstay in the middle of the batting order, but as one of the finest defensive infielders in baseball. By Baseball-Reference’s measure of WAR, he has been the most valuable Cub this season, a repeat of last year’s breakout.
Without Baez, Addison Russell is next in line to man the shortstop position. While his defensive talent at the position rivals that of Baez, it’s undebatable that his offensive production leaves much to be desired. If the Cubs, who find themselves in the heat of a contested playoff race, are to overtake the first-place Cardinals, Russell and the rest of the Cubs will need to pick up the slack. If indeed Baez is forced to miss the remainder of the season, it’s an injury that could have a significant impact on the National League Wild-Card chase.
This season, Baez has slashed .281/.316/.532 and has slugged 29 home runs, doubling down on the power surge that carried him to a second-place MVP finish a year ago. On defense, he’s tallied 15 DRS and earned a 9.6 Ultimate Zone Rating, both of which place him among the three best defensive shortstops in baseball.
You hate to see it
Agreed. This sucks as a baseball fan. They still have plenty enough to hang onto their wild card spot though.
Yeah? Who?
Dude why do you waste so much time trolling on this website?
Obviously not the white sox. Don’t be throwing shade when your team is already out of the playoffs
Time for Addison Russell to redeem himself. This is exactly the reason the Cubs have kept him around.
It’s an honest question. Who on the cubs is going to carry the team into the playoffs? The cubs aren’t having a good year offensively, in spite of the HRs. If my question hurts your feelings, too bad. Grow up or get lost.
The way Contreras is playing after coming back from his injury he might be the guy to lead the team
Honestly if everyone does their part nobody has to lead. The problem is their inconsistency.
Thank you Capt. Obvious.
We need KB and Rizzo to pick it up. Castellanos, Schwarber, and Contreras are doing their fair share. Let’s hope Javy gets back.
Someone needs to step up. Arizona is on fire and nationals are gonna be tough to beat at home.
Also just in: My chances of winning my fantasy baseball league are gone! In second place but an injury of one of my best players is too much to take. Maybe I should start tanking to get a high pick next year.
Baez is one of your best players? Thats not good. A lot of his value comes from his defense which doesn’t matter.
I’m not saying he’s bad, but he isn’t even a top 10 SS in fantasy this year.
Well I mean he’s been my most consistently good player, which is valuable. I have guys like Pete Alonso and Ronald Acuña Jr but they’re just the few that have been somewhat consistent.
Well I do play fantasy baseball, and a quick perusal of the current rankings shows Javy Baez ranked 8th overall in standard Yahoo leagues. And he’s hasn’t had his best year to date. So I guess it proves once again, Yankees fans never know what they’re talking about when it come to baseball, fantasy or not.
ESPN has him at #11. Nice attempt at an insult though.
ESPN? Eww.
I’ll do the honors. No one else cares about YOUR FANTASY TEAM! The question is would you rather want Russell filling in or Gleyber Torres?
Would you rather want Gleyber Torres available or a 2016 World Series title?
Why not both? Mind blown, right?
Because without the Chapman trade the Cubs do not win the 2016 championship. Thus you cannot have both. Its not mind blowing at all. Just common sense.
@sherlock
I doubt anyone here cares at all about your fantasy baseball team except for Yankee Pride
Why bother commenting then wordonthesteeet?
Tough loss for the Cubs. Gonna be hard for them to replace both his bat and glove.
I loathe the cubs and everything associated with them but im a huge baseball fan and it always sucks to see a key player get hurt so close to the end of the season with the playoffs within grasp. Get well soon Baez
Start celebrating the central division title
Nah, that’s counting chickens before they hatch. Seven games in the last two weekends should decide it.
Yep, which really those last games will be pretty much playoff games imo…it will be the cubs and cardinals battling for the NL central…and if one team or the other plays bad enough they will be fighting for the wild card…great baseball ahead
Are the Cub players that damn stupid? Will any of them ever learn to quit sliding into a base head 1st? Kris Bryant could’ve lost his career due to a shoulder injury, comes back from the IL and slides headfirst again. Unbelievable Cubs players don’t understand the dangers of sliding in headfirst.
That’s kind of a baseball wide thing now, nothing flashy about sliding feet first
1984 called, they want their base stealing techniques back.
@cars
Yelich just stole his 3rd base. All head first. I guess he did not learn either. Just the Cubs you say?
It’s not just Cubs players, it’s rampant in all of baseball. Didn’t the Brewers lose Nelson for like 18 months because he went head first getting back to first base? It could have been an ankle sliding feet first. It was a hard (though clean) slide and tag. Injuries happen.How about the players that kick or hit things in the dugout that break bones?
Wonder if this is as serious as Muncy’s fake injury?