After all, since the start of the 2018 season, Baez leads all Cubs players with an fWAR of 7.2, nearly twice as much as Anthony Rizzo, who ranks second among Cubs position players with an fWAR of 3.9. And if that’s not possible, that might make you open-minded about trades.”. As things stand, Báez is one of the Cubs' key players -- along with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber and others -- on target to hit free agency after the '21 campaign. If there's one core piece that the Chicago Cubs have shown incentive to sign to a contract extension, it's shortstop Javier Baez. As we have in previous offseasons, we’re very likely to engage certain players in discussions about long-term contracts and see if there’s a way to extend player’s windows as Cubs that way. That being said, it’s easy to foresee circumstances playing out where small market teams (as well as large market ones, too) look to shed big contracts in the coming weeks and months in efforts to cut payroll. “I grew up in this organization,” Baez said at the annual fan convention in January. Similar to Bregman, Baez has two years of arbitration left before he can hit the free agency market. However, once Javy joined the Major League club, his hitting was abysmal, striking out in 44.6% of his at-bats in his rookie season. His plate discipline also leaves something to be desired, as he swings at 44.4% of pitches outside of the zone, the third highest rate in baseball. “We’re open to change. First year BBWAA member in 2019. The Cubs superstar shortstop made that point clear, telling reporters, “Everyone wants to get paid, but we’ve got to wait for the right time. While Baez has never won a Gold Glove, he’s routinely regarded as one of the best defensive infielders in baseball. Including during Spring Training this year, the Cubs and Báez's representatives have had conversations about an extension to some extent. One of the unsettled situations hovering over Chicago is the possibility of locking in members of its core group with multiyear extensions. Along with his usual elite defense up the middle for the Chicago infield, he hit four triples, 38 doubles and 29 home runs – further cementing himself as one of the game’s premier talents. Baez told Rivera that the two sides have had many amiable talks, which should be encouraging for fans in Chicago, but the time for the Cubs to make him the face of their franchise is overripe. That year, he compiled 34 homers, an NL-high 111 RBIs and an .881 OPS, and he started at second base for the NL All-Star team. I've got to take my team to get better and to be in the playoffs again.". Now the question bears asking, what’s he worth? Last season, Báez launched 29 homers, collected 85 RBIs and posted an .847 OPS in a year abbreviated to 138 games due to injuries. The Cubs and superstar shortstop Javier Baez are discussing a long-term contract extension, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. Last season, Báez hit .281/.316/.531 with 29 home runs and 85 RBI over 561 plate appearances. A contract extension for Baez would undoubtedly be sizable, and the Cubs’ current financial obligations are significant. 2020 Contract Status: Signed thru 2020, 1 yr/$10M (20) Service Time (01/2020): 4.089 • Arb Eligible: 2021 • Free Agent: 2022 Agents: Wasserman . Meanwhile, the Cubs and the rest of Major League Baseball are attempting to get ready for a shortened 60-game season, set to open on July 23-24. Baez was one of the best hitters in all of Minor League Baseball prior to his arrival on the North Side in 2014, hitting 37 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A the season before. In fact, Boras laid out at the GM Meetings this week why a Bryant trade is unlikely, which also can apply to Baez. Chicago Cubs' Yu Darvish has a 'minor fingernail issue', but no worries, Mark Cuban Says He Has 'No Regrets' over Failed Bid to Buy Cubs Franchise, Cubs fans will have pay a hefty price to watch a game from the rooftops this year, Chicago Cubs: The new 'Daily Double' of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, Top 25 Super Bowl Performances of All Time, Each NHL Team's Most Likely Future Hall of Famer, 30 Greatest Teams in Premier League History, 28 most memorable buzzer beaters in March Madness history. The Cubs have started negotiations to secure a long-term extension with Baez, which is considered more feasible than getting one done with Bryant. Just four months after Baez was drafted, Theo Epstein took over. So, if the Cubs feel they can’t agree to terms on an extension with Baez and/or Bryant, they could entertain trade proposals for the sake of doing due diligence. Javy Báez, José Berríos step up to help children in Puerto Rico: https://t.co/SVAHcZu2lc. "Obviously, we want to reach an agreement, but right now everything is on hiatus,” Baez said in the ESPN story. Get all the sports news you need, direct to your inbox. ESPN’s Marly Rivera reports that infielder Javier Báez and the Cubs have paused talks of a contract extension while Major League Baseball remains shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. ¡Impresionante! Boras said. Baez finished 2nd in the National League MVP vote in 2018, and looks well on his way to another top-5 finish in 2019. More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Follow me. This past weekend, Báez and Berríos also teamed up to provide warm meals and supplies to more than 500 children in Puerto Rico. #MLBPuertoRicoAsí se ayuda a un amigo. The Cubs are working to keep one of their core players on the North Side for years to come. Along with Baez, the list of Cubs players headed for free agency in 2022 also includes Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, while Anthony Rizzo will be coming off of a $16.5 million club option for 2021. How those talks go could influence other moves this winter. The Cubs and superstar shortstop Javier Baez are discussing a long-term contract extension, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. By that metric, the Cubs’ Javier Baez is one of the most valuable players in baseball. Your privacy is safe with us. The economy is limping along, with millions of Americans on unemployment benefits as layoffs continue. Full Name: Ednel Javier Baez Nicknames: Javy or El Mago. For all the superlatives in Javy’s game, he does have a few warts. The Cubs could use a public relations win right now, and keeping Baez in the organization for the long haul is an easy way to do it. Twitter: @javy23baez. Per Roster Resource, the Cubs have just under $93 million committed for 2021, and the luxury tax threshold for that season is $210 million, so there’s some room for making Baez a long-term centerpiece of the organization. Cubs, Javier Baez unlikely to talk contract extension until the offseason Javier Baez joined fellow Cubs star Kris Bryant in saying now is not the time. @javy23baez pic.twitter.com/zHWWptPZ15. One of the unsettled situations hovering over Chicago is the possibility of locking in members of its core group with multiyear extensions. Some, including myself, had wondered if 2018 was a fluke season for Baez, but with his fantastic start to 2019, it looks as if he has put those reservations to rest. Baez took over shortstop duties essentially full time in 2019 after years of toggling between short and second. In February, Kyle Hendricks agreed to a four-year extension, one season before the right-hander was set to hit the open market. It would be foolish for the Cubs not to sign Baez to a long-term deal before that happens. Jordan Bastian covers the Cubs for MLB.com. To the Cubs’ credit, extending Baez is not as simple as hammering down the years and dollars. But the glove was never in question. “, EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change. Baez and third baseman Kris Bryant will become free agents after the 2021 season and the Cubs have been unsuccessful in extending either player to date. Don’t expect to see any extension talks between the front office and any of the team’s key players in the coming months. Even with all of that in the air, extending Baez — and doing it sooner rather than later — would help give the Cubs the financial clarity that they need beyond the 2020 season. Baez's adjusted salary with the Chicago Cubs is $3,703,704 The Cubs are working to keep one of their core players on the North Side for years to come. Javier Baez signed a 1 year / $10,000,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $10,000,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $10,000,000. "Certainly every player I have that is at that level, they're always asking the question about, 'will they? There is little to be gained by stopping talks while the season is on hold. Maybe we’ll see more momentum once the season ends (if it happens) – but right now, like so many other aspects of life, the novel coronavirus is holding all the cards and keeping anything from moving forward. According to Wittenmyer, reaching a long-term deal with Baez is seen as “much more feasible” for the Cubs than with Bryant. He previously covered the Indians from 2011-18 and the Blue Jays from 2006-10. Cubs will utilize Kyle Schwarber as designated hitter and in the outfield. https://t.co/MQxQ5j55lJ. Despite what some wish to believe, the coronavirus pandemic is looming larger than ever across the United States as cases surge. It seems like they should eventually come together on a new contract before it’s too late. In 2020, Baez will earn a base salary of $10,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $10,000,000. With only four full seasons to his name, Baez has already cracked the Cubs’ top-50 WAR leaders in franchise history. Powered by Minute Media © 2020 All Rights Reserved. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Want your voice heard? With an incredibly stagnant past couple years of free agency, we saw a flurry of extensions signed this March, including Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks. "I'm very happy in Chicago. Javier Baez joined Cubs teammate Kris Bryant in saying now isn't the time to talk about a contract extension given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While Bregman is superior offensively due to his ability to draw walks at an elite clip, Baez closes the gap with better defense at a premier position and slightly better base running. I am a freelance baseball writer and contributor to Forbes. They gave Anthony Rizzo a seven-year deal in 2013, buying out the first baseman’s remaining arbitration years. You may opt-out by. He turned 27 in December and has already amassed nearly 17 wins above replacement — per Baseball Reference — and he is coming off of the two best seasons of his career while playing a premium defensive position. Like Bregman, Javy is a power bat that plays exceptional defense on the left side of the infield. Baseball is no exception, as owners have quickly reevaluated the landscape that, as recently as this spring, looked like its usual cash cow self. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. It’s a bit different this year, and not all these players will be retained. They still have long-term contracts to Yu Darvish and Jason Heyward that run through 2023, and the Cubs also recently extended Kyle Hendricks through 2023 with a vesting option for 2024. He plays Gold Glove-caliber defense at three infield positions, he can smack the ball all over the park, he can run the bases exceptionally well, and he even sprinkles in a little magic here and there. Over the offseason, the sides avoided arbitration with a one-year, $10 million contract for 2020 and moved forward without a specific deadline for extension talks. The 27-year-old is coming off another strong showing, despite a late-season injury. The Cubs have Baez under team control for one more year; 2021 will be the final season of arbitration before he is set to reach unrestricted free agency in 2022.