The Tigers have and free-agent shortstop Javier Baez have discussed a contract within the past few days, MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reports (via Twitter). ESPN’s Buster Olney adds that the Tigers are currently “focused” on Baez after previously talking to both Carlos Correa and Marcus Semien. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic also tweets the Tigers and Baez are having discussions, though he also emphasizes that there’s no deal in place.
It’s not the first time the two sides have been connected, but recent talks between the two parties are nevertheless notable — particularly given various reports and industry speculation that Baez could push to sign somewhere prior to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement next week.
Detroit has been repeatedly linked to Correa for months now, though at least some of that stems from the fact that Tigers manager AJ Hinch knows Correa well from their time together in Houston. General manager Al Avila began the offseason by stating that his team needed both a starting pitcher and a shortstop while simultaneously emphasizing that the club would not “spend like drunken sailors.” This week, speaking at Eduardo Rodriguez’s introductory press conference, Avila struck a similar tone (links via Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press and Evan Woodberry of MLive.com).
“One big splash does not win you the offseason,” Avila said, adding that there was never going to be a free agent who could singlehandedly make the Tigers into a contender.
“Obviously, we want to get into the playoffs,” Avila said Tuesday, “but we have to be careful as we move forward. … We have to make sure we can field a good 26-man roster. It’s going to be a measured process. We’re going to be very careful in how we do it.”
It’s important to note that said quotes certainly don’t eliminate the possibility of Detroit beating the market to sign Correa or fellow top free agent Corey Seager. Even with Rodriguez aboard, the Tigers have minimal long-term commitments on the books. Tucker Barnhart and Robbie Grossman are signed through 2022. Miguel Cabrera and Jonathan Schoop are signed through 2023. Rodriguez is the only Tiger signed beyond that 2023 season.
That said, if Detroit truly is focused on employing a more “measured” approach, a shorter-term deal for Baez, Semien or Trevor Story would fit the bill. The combination of Rodriguez and any one of that trio would very likely cost less than signing either Correa or Seager on his own, while still providing considerable upgrades over the 2021 roster.
It was an up-and-down season in 2021 for Baez, who’ll turn 29 the day the CBA expires. After a solid first month at the plate, he alternated between brilliant numbers (May, July, September) and awful numbers (June, August) on a month-by-month basis. Notably, he finished out the year with his hottest streak of the season: .347/.426/.554 with five homers and six doubles in 115 September/October plate appearances. Perhaps more encouraging was the fact that following his trade to the Mets, Baez walked at a 7.0% clip that would represent a career-best, while his strikeout rate dropped from 36.3% with the Cubs to a somewhat more manageable 28.5%.
The ups and downs come with the territory for Baez, who’s known as a streaky hitter, but the end result this season was a .265/.319/.494 batting line and 31 homers. That would be an overwhelming upgrade for a Tigers team that saw its shortstops combine to post an awful .201/.275/.321 batting line — and that’s before considering Baez’s status as plus defensive shortstop and plus baserunner.
Baez ostensibly has a fairly wide market in free agency, as he’s also been linked to the Mariners, Rangers, Red Sox, Yankees and the incumbent Mets — albeit to varying extents.
Blech
Tigers fan here. I do not want Baez. I wouldn’t give him more than a one year pillow contract. He’s the worst available shortstop on the market. Unless we’re using the savings to make a few more big splashes, hard pass.
A pillow contract for a 3-4 win player? That’s not how they work.
I wouldn’t want either, fwiw.
WAR does not determine who receives a pillow contract, a player’s market does. Semien was worth 1.2 fWAR in 2020 over 53 games, so easily more than 3 wins during a regular season. He settled for a one year pillow contract. With Baez’s inconsistency and PR issues this past season, I wouldn’t be shocked if he has to settle for a pillow contract. I don’t expect it, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
You are absolutely 100000% wrong if you think Baez is taking a pillow contract – he’s getting $150M minimum this year whether the nerds who hate strikeouts like it or not!!!
@A’sfaninUK- So you believe he’s getting more than a 7yr deal? That’s the only way he pulls 150m because I feel confident no one is paying him more than 20m annually. You just can’t make a guy who is that hot and cold a centerpiece of a championship club. He’s more of a complimentary piece.
Bleacher Report predicts he’ll get 3yr72m & the guys here at MLBTR think he’ll sign for 5yr100m. There’s not a f-ing chance he gets 150m.
I think Báez is very overrated and his defense doesn’t make up for his offensive deficiencies (WRC+ barely above average… and which is why I think WAR overstates defense’s value), but I do think some team will give at least 6/150 for him
Lol some Pirates fielder forgets to throw the ball to first and suddenly people think Baez is getting 150 million dollars.
$150m… Say it after me “Not by my team!”.
I’ll pass this along to Big Al.
@ JamesM;
Have been following the Tigers rebuild. Saw the way they played last year – they’re getting the traction which will make them a contender for the next 5-7 years….at least. Love Avila – solid baseball guy, one of the best.
But not Baez. The last thing a young team needs from a veteran – hog dogging, inconsistent play as SS (a position that has to be rock solid) and feast or famine hitting.
Hopefully this is ploy on the Tigers part to get one of the other SS’s to be more realistic in their demands. Else they’re better off trading for a SS.
Well, that and they play in the worst division in professional sports.
@ seamaholic 2;
Actually, not following the other sports – I can assure you that the NL East was worse in 2021.
And the AL Central is going to be getting better for years to come.
No, that is the NFC Central. Home of the worst and most poorly ran organizations in professional sports, the Detroit Lions.
Lions are in nfc north ?
Well, how you can call a gold glove winner “inconsistent” is an eye roller for me. Yes, his lack of plate discipline is frustrating, but he has been an absolute game-changer with his bat and his glove too many times to dismiss that easily.
Also Tigers fan here, when they didn’t sign JV I knew they were not serious about going all in. Most off-seasons I wouldn’t characterize Baez as bargain hunting but in my opinion it’s exactly what this is. When Correa/Seager are sitting out there this approach by the Tigers is frustrating. In the end I hope I’m wrong but they can afford Correa/Seager they just don’t want to pay them.
Correa and Seager are vastly overrated and overpriced given their middling power production, constantly hurt, NO speed whatsoever, middling OBP skills, and solid defense. You’re going to have to go much longer on years, and probably twice as much in dollars for one of those primadonnas just to watch them more consistently hit the DL than baseballs. Is Baez perfect? No, far from it; but the power/speed profile paired with the solid defense and ability to stay on the field actually give you a chance for a return on your investment. Giving those years and dollars to the 2 aforementioned is tantamount to throwing money away.
Story isn’t tho. :/
They couldnt make JV sign with us.
There was no reason to add JV.
No thanks.
Stay with the Mets please. (Baez fan, not Mets fan)
HUGE mistake if Mets keep him.
Why? If he and Lindor could stay on the field together, that would be a potent DP combination and would be attractive to ground ball pitchers like Stroman.
Better than Cano
He would be a big help to the Tigers
Brutal. This would be a massive disappointment as a fan.
why?
There’s a thing called stats buddy. That’s why
Yes….
And the only one that I look at is w vs. L.
His stats are quite good, especially for a plus defensive shortstop. Not sure what you mean.
Stats? What is it about .265/.319./.494 and 31 HRs that bothers you, buddy?
Oh, that’s right. A Cub hater.
Baez doesn’t have a skillset that ages well. Good power, but lots of swing and miss. He also doesn’t walk a lot. He could be a solid .270/.320/.500 the next handful seasons, or hit .220/.250/.450 as well.
Know what else doesn’t age well? “Elite” SS’s, at least perceived as such, that can NOT stay on the field (Seager and Correa). Their skill profiles didn’t age well before they ever realized any sort of potential, LOL. Correa hitting in a band box stadium and his ceiling has still been blah at best? Give me a break. Baez has many faults of his own, but he’s by FAR the best buy of the 3.
I agree. A contract like 10/$320 should go to a better player than Correa. Correa’s ceiling was A-Rods floor. Correa is good but not worth what he’s seeking.
Baez just saw Matz’s agent use Cohen to get his player a higher price, now he’s doing it lol
Lol he played the Mets. It was payback. Matz didn’t get more money because of that.
As a Sox fan, this makes me very happy. The K numbers are WAY too high
and yet you probably hate on pitchers with low K totals – cant have it both ways.
Javier Baez is awesome at baseball and loves baseball more than you.
Don’t have to make everything personal Sonny, just giving my opinion. Spread your negativity on a different site, we don’t need bitter fans like you.
Coming from the guy who states he’s a Sox fan…yeah nothing personal just because this guy was a Cub.
It’s not personal- it’s only business. I like Baez and he seems to be a great guy, I just think it would be ill advised to sign him due to his strikeout numbers. That’s not personal at all.
If it’s so important to put (Doesn’t Like the Cubs) in your username, it’s fair to say your objectivity is questionable.
@A’sfaninUK- You realize that makes no sense, right?
A strikeout is an unproductive out. At best the only defense for it is it beats grounding into a double play.
If a pitcher has low K totals they could still be amazing. Greg Maddux was really, really good.
So why would you assume he hates on pitchers with low K totals because he doesn’t want a strikeout prone hitter?
Why does how much he loves baseball matter?
You can absolutely hate pitchers with a low K% and hitters with a high one. Odd comment.
Traditionally, yes. But he seemed to be a more disciplined hitter during the latter portion of the season. He’s also elite defensively.
Conversation between Avila and player who has won championships before:
Avila: How much do you want?
Player: Uh, thanks for your interest. Maybe we’ll talk later. If no contenders want me.
This sort of implies only players who have won championships want to win championships
No, it implies that players who have won championships don’t want to start over with a rebuilding team.
No Free Agent does. Whether they have won or not is irrelevant.
Detroit is no longer rebuilding.
Player: Thanks for your interest. We’ll talk if no contender wants me.
Avila: If you wait too long, we will have signed someone else. Hope you won’t have to settle for a pillow contract.
2022 still very much a build
List of “Contenders” that need a SS: NYY, STL (not expected to pay top dollar) SEA (but can’t play ss)
List of SS looking for a contender: Correa, Seagar, Semien, Story, Baez, Galvis & Simmons.
Pretty sure all but one or two will be back talking to Detroit.
It seems as if teams are trying to re-set the shortstop market after the Mets’ overpaid to sign Lindor. Put a lid on what you’ll pay Correa and Seager and the price of the others will drop as well. Can you say collusion? It’s not an unfamiliar word to Major League Baseball.
Nah, ill buy a better informed market now than any collusion talk
I find most people (not saying you) barking collusion are the only ones interfering w the market at all. Machado still sends gift baskets to this folks at Xmas
MLB free agency is about as free and genuine of a market as you can get, we should let it play out as such before throwing around the C word
It’s not free or genuine when draft picks are tied to the best so-called free agents.
@ Cey Hey;
You’re correct, but you’re missing one consideration in your statement – the same thing that MLB owners, players, and media always miss….
The teams Fans – particularly small and some mid-market teams.
You know – the ones that ultimately pay for all this.
A team controls a player for 6 years. Most players are well into their 3rd year before they totally adjust to MLB play (and most never even make the 6 years). The local fans pay to live through that. If the player is any good, within 2 years after that comes talk of what large market team can trade them garbage for the player since he’s going to be a FA anyway in the near future (routine reading on MLBTR – articles and comments).
It’s not absurd that fans of the team get back a draft choice – most of which never amount to anything anyway.
QO are very insignificant to the big picture and they are applied evenly across the board .
They also don’t factor into any form of collusion being taken by the owners (what my post was about).
I fear the word being used in here w not the smartest crowd echoing things they know nothing about- Lets not forget the Machado/harper days…well actually lets try our best
Collision? How lame! I hardly even speak to someone’s intelligence or motivation…so… let’s go over this… slowly…..
Some idiot GM, outbids everyone else and very stupidly pays $300M for a SS. He OUTBID everyone else..meaning no one else was willing to pay that much…..
Now, no one is left who wants to pay that.much.
So, that’s a collusion? A conspiracy to get others? Really?
I put forth, you, CeyHey have a wrong headed mentality.
I don’t believe Mays would agree with anything you say,kid.
Mets will probably be late on pulling the trigger, Like with Matz.
ANY of the 5 big name SS’s being discussed would be a HUGE upgrade over last season. If it turns out to be Baez then so be it…especially if it only takes a 3-4 yr deal. As a Tiger’s fan I’ll trust in AJ not only to make it work but also to get the most out of him while he’s a Tiger. With Baez at SS and Schoop at 2B (for the next couple of seasons anyway) it sets the Tigers up for a legitimate shot at making the post season right away AND it doesn’t set the organization back financially for the next decade.
First really reasonable comment I’ve seen on this thread. Recognizing that Baez is far from a perfect solution to our need at SS, while also realizing that overrated and overpriced injury prone “elite” names like Seager and Correa are a far worse buy (MUCH more money and at least a few more years).
I agree, while I would prefer Correa 100% over Baez who was my initial backup option to Correa before I moved Seager to #2.
The pluses with Baez is his bat and he adds speed which this team needs to maintain going forward.
Whether it is a 3 or 5 year deal does not matter if he is in the 20-25mm range. It means the tigers can go after another impact bat like Schwarber and another big arm like Carlos Rodan than next year try to sign Trea Turner if he does”nt get extended.
Thank you for being the voice of reason in here. I don’t love the “hit-or-miss” in his game either, but I love his athleticism and his glove work.
.240/30/90/20 and Gold Glove level defense still works for me (especially for less than $30m/yr).
Spend the savings on a Sonny Gray-level SP to push Mize/Skubal to #3 and #4 in the rotation (for now).
The best news the Mets have heard since deGrom’s last brilliant start.
Javy is frustrating at times, but so are many of the others. He’s definitely an upgrade for the Tigers. You don’t just throw Javy onto a team and say they are a championship contender. What player alone makes you a championship contender? The point is the Tigers have some nice controllable pieces. He is just one piece.
Anyone else see Baez talking with Detroit being nothing more than an attempt at leverage with respect to negotiations with Correa? The biggest news this off-season will be if Correa does not ink with the team that wants to again roar.
Correa (and Seager) is overpriced and overrated, period. Let him go to a market that is desperate for only the “big names.” Let the Baez’s and Semien’s of the world fall to teams like the Tigers.
I don’t disagree, especially for Seager but Detroit will likely have to overpay so my thinking is talking to others will help counter that argument.
It’s good to see Tigers’ fans come out of the woodwork with delusions of top free agents (“only on a pillow contract”) and vague concerns about Latin players (“don’t want a hot dogger”). It’s been a while since you could emerge given the state of your team.
1) All Tiger fans are not the same. We rarely agree on anything.
2) Tiger fans did not begin this rumor.
3) Given the state of the team for the duration, we are true fans.
I don’t want any of the high profile SSs. I want the Tigers to stick with the plan and develop Ps.
I personally don’t understand the fascination over this guy. I’m hoping to God the Mets resign him for an outrageous amount of money and years. Anyone who thinks that the small sample he provided with the Mets is his new norm is insane and doesn’t understand the most fundamental concepts of statistics. This guy is basically Rougned Odor with elite defense. Just look at the numbers. Someone is about to make a regrettable signing.
Hopefully only.helping to drive up the price, let the other team make the mistake and Al doesn’t actually sign anyone. In no way, shape or form does some idiot paying a salary of $x, mean that the new salary norm.is $x. $x was the top bid then – key word – top.bid, meaning and bid now should be LESS THAN that….unless of course you work for BORAS……or a payola receiver.
Seager and Correa have missed a lot of games in 3 or 4 seasons each….and this is when they are going to be at their athletic best and peak health. There is a very strong chance either if them break down over and over again or have to move off SS. Their bats play well at SS but are nothing beyond pretty good for a LF.
I would be happy to get any of the 4 mentioned. Story I don’t trust as much from park factor differential but I’m sure he would be going to another hitters park anyways.
I’m not a fan of Baez but I do admit that he’s more durable than the others.
Whoever the Tigers get, it’ll be better than what they have……
baez is an upgrade. I’d take him over 10+ $340 mil to correa
We’ll see. I doubt this means the Tigers are out on Correa or anyone else. They are likely taking the path of least resistance. Baez may be willing to play for what the Tigers are willing to play and Correa wants to wait out the market. So what do you do? Do you see how the market goes for Correa or do you take a good SS (at likely a lot less money)? Baez is not Correa but he is a 6+ WAR guy in his best years and a 4.4 WAR average for 162 games for his career.
Lifelong Tigers fan, and I hate this rumor just about as much as I hate the thought of Correa for $300M! Correa is a much better player, but not at $300M over 10 years. Baez is too streaky a hitter to pay anything more than $15-$18M annually and more than 5 years. IMHO,I think that Greene and Torkelson will provide this team with all the star power it’ll need over the next decade. And with Mize, E-Rod and Skubal (not to mention Jackson Jobe who I think will be a better SP than all of them) fronting the rotation we should be relevant for years to come. So if I had to pick between Correa at 10/$300M or Baez at 5/$95M, I would go with Baez and maybe be able to scoop up another FA like Suzuki or Schwarber to play OF until Greene is ready to play a full time role. Other Tigers fans? Thoughts???
IDK if the Tigers are actually looking to sign an OF or not. They might, but that probably depends more on the OF market than who we sign at SS. In other words, I don’t think the Tigers are trying to save money on the SS signing to use elsewhere.
But Greene, Tork Mize, Skubal will be the stars, yes. Even Correa, if signed, will be a supporting character to these guys.
I agree. If they can sign Baez to a deal under 140 mil or so, maybe they look to add another impact player. I wouldn’t mind signing another pitcher like Gray. I could see Mr. Avila trying to sign Baez to a deal similar to E-Rod. Maybe a 5-7 year deal with opt outs after the 2nd season and maybe another after seasons 3, 4, and 5. Some combination of that. Tigers have several nice arms potentially down on the farm with Faedo, Wentz, Jobe, Madden, Olsen, and Foley. Some are bullpen, others are starters. Even if half of them produce, it’ll be a huge bonus. Detroit seems to be set in the OF with Greene, Badoo, and Grossman. Not sure what their 4th OF looks like, but that’s something that can be addressed after more pressing needs are taken care of. If they sign Baez and push for the playoffs next season, next offseason could be their real chance to strike on a guy like Trae Turner and move Baez over to second. Bottom line is, I don’t want them to tie up all their money so there isn’t flexibility down the line if pieces become available that could put them over the top. Also, it’s worth keeping in mind that extensions will be here before you know it on Mize and Skubal. Just my two cents.
I think it is ridiculous the Tiger management team is even thinking of playing Torkelson and Greene. This is a rebuild. Players should be kept off of the 25 man roster for as long as possible. ( This includes the pitchers Mixed, Skubal,Manning as well).
The 25 man roster should be used to hire Free Agents who are tradable with team friendly contracts – meaning signing bonuses that reduce the annual cost to the receiving team (for example a player wants $20M, reduce that with a signing bonus say $6M and then $18M per year, the receiving team gets a reduced price). Contract should.have team options, NOT PLAYER OPT.OUTS. Almost ALWAYS having his butt handed to him.
Also Al should be offering salary relief to contenders, allowing them to sign these ridiculous contracts these players are asking for. SD is a good target for that. Al should be targeting top prospects on other teams by trading anything and everything he can, including Hinch.
Lots of things Al should be doing rather that trying.to fill holes.with free agents.
Did you see Tiger bating averages last year? No one can tell me.withbanstraight face that the Tigers are contenders as is. Another Detroit great, Bozo the Clown, has died and Al needs to stop.pulling this gag.
I don’t think this would be the best fit for Detroit . I understand why they would do it over Semien. Semien is better when he plays second base in my opinion. And Correa wants a lot of money . Probably to much for the tigers to want to spend on . I think Correa fits them better tho .
Every team with a need talks to every quality player who can fill that need. I’d prefer a less streaky player than Baez, but there’s an attractiveness to not having to give up a draft pick while signing a shorter contract with a lower dollar commitment.
The Tigers are almost back baby!
Poverty player to poverty franchise makes sense.
Nice productive comment.
[Mute]
Seager’s injuries leave him at the same WAR per season as Baez, but both are about two WAR lower than Correa. Stretch for Correa, but not for Seager. I’m warming up to Baez, though, even as I’d prefer a more consistent player.
I learned in talking with some of the more sensible guys on the boards to view certain players as glove-first. I decided to apply that to Baez. When I did, my whole outlook changed regarding whether I would consider him for my team for the assumed price tag.
He’s an excellent multi-positional defender with a great* bat for a glove-first guy. Compare him to other glove-first SS and his bat is actually quite good. Compare his years/price to other SS and it’s even more appealing to me.
Niko Goodrum and Zack Short were the options at shortstop until now. Zack Short and Anemia are paired in the minds of many Tiger fans.
Grandpappies throughout the Great Lakes region say that thermometer model Coot Veal was a Paul Bunyan type compared to ol’ Zack.
Beggars can’t be choosers. To see any one of these veteran options out there in 2022 will be a major jolt to the central nervous system of many Detroiters.
Will believe it when it happens.
Biggest L off the offseason if the Tigers settle for Baez over one of the actually good SS in this class..
I’m not necessarily a tigers fan, I’m a braves fan but if I was a diehard tigers fan I think I’d rather them go after semien than any of them.
I think he goes back to Toronto. Tigers want CC but at their terms. 6 or 7 years 200 to 240 million. Baez is my second choice.
The Tigers still need a bunch of new guys. Look, for one intra-division example, at the White Sox roster then Detroit’s projected 9 including DH. Oy and yikes. Wide gulf of separation there, and Chicago isn’t even atop the baseball mountain.
One new playtoy SS isn’t going to do all that much even added to the hopes and dreams and wishes that are on the way up.
Many needs remain after SS is filled. Gotta start somewhere, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be there. It’s not like they just need that one last piece.
That’s a ways off.
But a lineup of….
LF-Grossman
3B-Candelario
SS-Correa or Baez
DH-Cabrera
2B-Schoop
1B-Torkelson
C-Barnhart/Haase
RF-Baddoo/Reyes
CF-Greene
Is a start….And after saying the OF was basically set earlier this offseason, lately there’s been rumblings of them possibly going after a corner OFer.
I know plenty people are against Baez but I am not one of them. His defense is solid and his bat has upside. Yes, biggest boom or bust of the 5. However, if they get him for 5 years 100 to 120 million, over a 10 year 300 million, they can use the money elsewhere.
I’d rather have him at $150 million less, give or take, than Correa. I don’t think Correa’s that much better.
As a long time Tiger fan dating back to working at Tiger Stadium as a junior usher in the early 70’s, we are NEVER going to find another Trammel and Whitaker. And we have nothing on our current roster that could “carry their jocks”. So, I guy like Baez will come much cheaper, he’s been more healthy, more exciting to watch, and plays a very good SS. I’ll certainly take a few GOOD “cut and misses” over watching a called strike 3. Not sure Story could maintain his minimal power efforts outside of Col. The money saved on Baez over Correa, or Seager could be used to go get Semien. Semien is getting up in age and SS may not be his best position, but he had a great year at 2nd. Now you would have two guys capable of holding down the middle for years for a little bit more than one part time SS. With these deals, and while waiting for Greene, Torkelson, and Dingler our lineup could look like this’
Grossman RF
Schoop 1st
Candy 3rd
Miggy DH
Semien 2nd
Baez SS
Haase LF
Barnhart C
Baddoo CF
Hill, Reyes, one of the Castro’s, and another catcher on the bench.
Sign another starting pitcher like Sonny Gray, Alex Cobb, or resign Peralta.
Trade the other Castro, Kody Clemens, Ryan Kreidler for a dependable closer.
I believe these actions and this team can take the Central.
OK, so Semien is gone to the Rangers. So my next choice to play 2nd would be a local favorite of mine Chris Taylor. He would provide more utility as well and not cost as much. If that doesn’t work, go get Eduardo Escobar, or Jonathan Villar for a couple of years.
It seems to me like if Semien managed to get a 7yr deal…despite being the oldest of the bunch…that means Baez can expect a deal at least close to that in number of years. Doesn’t bode well for Tiger fans expecting an upgrade at SS