The Cubs and shortstop Javier Baez have avoided arbitration with an $11.65MM agreement for 2021, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com tweets. Baez is a Wasserman client.
MLBTR forecast a $10MM to $11.9MM arbitration salary for Baez earlier this offseason, so this deal checks in near the top of that projection. The Cubs could still try to work out an extension with Baez, though it doesn’t seem that will happen in the immediate future. For now, the 28-year-old remains on track to become a free agent after the upcoming season.
Regardless of whether an extension comes together, both the Cubs and Baez will hope for a better year out of the two-time All-Star, who posted one of his worst seasons in 2020. Baez did appear in 59 of the Cubs’ 60 regular-season games, but he batted a disastrous .203/.238/.360 (57 wRC+), recorded his worst ISO since 2016 (.158), and amassed 75 strikeouts against a mere seven walks over 235 plate appearances. That was hardly the star-level output Baez provided the Cubs from 2018-19, when he combined for a line of .286/.321/.544 (123 wRC+) in 1,206 PA and was among the most valuable infielders in the sport.
There’s a fish … in the percolator!
Think you’ll ever drink coffee again? =D
Trade him now while the acquiring team still retains the right to QO him.
That would be like trading DJ LeMahieu for a half box of baseball(not MLB regulated), a Todd Helton burger and Ian Stewart.
The smart thing would be to extend by any means. Then focus on Rizzo’s extension
If Jed Hoyer really has some magical Harry Potter spells that force players to sign with the Cubs, he should be going after Trevor Bauer and George Springer.
I don’t think extending Javy is a good plan unless they can get it done for cheap or short term
It must be his tags ;-0
Wrek is h3ll bent on the Cubs extending Rizzo and Baez despite the fact that the Cubs would have zero leverage going into those negotiations. It would be better to let both play out the season, give both QO at the end of the year and leverage that against a new deal.
Honestly, in Baez’s case, there is no way I would extend him at this point unless it was for an absolute bargain. Offering him what I would be prepared to offer him right now would most likely insult him and ruin the chances of re-uniting at the end of the season so I wouldn’t even approach the subject.
Baez and especially Rizzo have plenty of trade value. Do with them what the Yanks did with Aroldis Chapman. The only thing stopping the Cubs from doing that is the Cubs themselves.
I think it would be worse to trade them and then try to re-sign them. Both want to remain on the cubs for the remainder of their careers. It may burn the bridge. And Rizzo should’ve had some kind of intensive in his team option where he had partial no trade clause kick in. No extending Ba3z after his 2nd place mvp season was foolish. He lost out on the mvp on the last 2 weeks of 2018. I think the 2nd cycle for yelich sealed the deal.
Trading them won’t burn any bridge! And Rizzo isn’t a Cubs lifer anyway being drafted by the Red Sox and making his debut with the Padres. If the Cubs trade them then offer them the most $ in FA there’s no way they sign anywhere else. If they like Chicago so much, maybe they even leave some $ on the table to come back to Chicago.
There is no evidence that trading a player burns the bridge to him coming back. In fact, I argue that getting traded is the best case scenario for them. The Cubs aren’t going to contend in 2021 so why spend the season playing for someone who will?
Saying Rizzo isn’t a Cubs lifer is kind of like saying Sandberg isn’t.
But like you said, each individual player is different. Lester said that his decision to join the Cubs vs. the Red Sox had something to do with the Red Sox trading him mi-season. There are other situations where a player is traded and signs right back to the team that traded him. I personally think it would all boil down to how the team treated the individual player during his time with them and during the trade discussion.
I’m not saying the Cubs are going to or are thinking about trading Rizzo but I think if Jed was transparent with him about a trade, the reasoning and so on then the door would be wide open for a return. If it came out of left field like it did with Darvish I’m sure there would be some hard feels.
Dude, the Cubs offered Lester $20m more than the Red Sox! Lester would have signed with the Cubs anyway!
And like you said, it will come down to how the team treated the player when he was there and during trade negotiations. The Cubs have treated Rizzo like a God so far and I’m sure that before they trade him they would have a discussion where they make sure they are on the same page. Obviously they can’t have any formal agreement that he will come back in a year because that would be tampering but make sure Rizzo knows that they are trading him because they are rebuilding and he only has one year left on his contract and not because they doubt him as a player or as a person. I’m sure he’d be fine with one year elsewhere if it meant having an actual legitimate shot at another ring.
When did I ever say Rizzo was a cubs lifer? I said he has stated a numerous occasions that he wants to stay on the cubs for the remainder of his career. You have no idea if they will can compete or not. Every single talking head said the cubs wouldn’t finish better than 3rd. Some one them said forth place. (Christopher Russo said that)
Rizzo already signed a team friendly deal. He’s a top 3 1B in baseball. You need to lock a player like him up. Hes only 31 and won’t be 32 until August 8th.
Plus you just don’t trade the face of the franchise.
If the Cubs are going to compete in 2021 as you say, how come they just traded Yu Darvish coming off his Cy Young runner-up season?
He already signed one team friendly deal. This time, he probably wants to get paid what he’s worth. And you can’t just “lock him up.” It’s a two way street.
“Plus you just don’t trade the face of the franchise.”
Well sure you do. The Indians just did it. The Red Sox did it last offseason. The Diamondbacks did it the offseason before that. And the Marlins did it the offseason before that.
If the Cubs trade Rizzo then match any offer he gets in FA there’s no way he signs elsewhere.
Haha I love how people always try to bring up Jon Lester as an example of trading for a player ruining any chance you might have had of signing him but then when you point out that the Cubs offered him way more $ than the Red Sox those people go into hiding.
I was starting to wonder if cubs would avoid arbitration with anyone.
WASHED UP
Do you have a towel? My car hit a water Buffalo.
Very well, I’ll have a Bloody Mary, a steak sandwich… and a steak sandwich.
Who says No Baez for Judge?
To me that trade somehow makes both teams worse, and you don’t see that everyday.
The cubs not only laugh at Cashman but changes his number and all office to direct to the cubs from the Yankees. Judge can’t play SS. Why would the cubs do that. Why would the Yankees do that? They’ve Torres at SS for the next 4 years.
The Yankees say no.
Obviously from a fit standpoint, Baez wouldn’t make sense but also I don’t think Cashman would move two years of Judge for one year of Baez.
I think the Cubs would be more than happy to put Judge in LF, Happ in CF and Heyward in Right, then ride out Nico at short stop.
Fletcher : Dork
anthonyd4412 : Dumb and also a Dork
57 wRC+ Ouch. Cubs remove some garbage cans?
I know you’re joking, but with so many Cubs having bad years I wonder. A couple of guys, including Javy, said they missed having access to the video room in-game. So, was that just to watch their swing or for something more nebulous?
I meant to say “nefarious”….
I don’t think they should have access to any of that stuff in game and only before or after. I don’t care what team it is, that’s an advantage. Do your homework first
Why? What difference does it make if everyone has access? Pitchers can also review video of hitters. I understand the concept of preparation, but aren’t in-game adjustments just as important?
Yankees do
I think too many people look at last year stats too much, if a guy has a long track record of success most likely he will rebound. 60 games plus COVID issues fir me gives u a mulligan.
The glove is still there, but he complained about not being able to review video after ABs (thanks Astros!) and he was lost at the plate all year.
Javy has always been a pretty streaky hitter. He has unbelievable stretches and then can fall off the face of the earth.
It’s called he gets “hot” when they have a streak of many #4 and #5 starters. TORs just toy with him; he has zero chance.
These are his monthly splits by OPS.
Baez 2018 OPS
Apr .963
May .769
June .915
July .953
August .904
Sept .791
Baez 2019 OPS
Apr .954
May .871
June .768
July .824
August .804
Sept (He had 4 AB’s)
Those are remarkably consistent numbers. Are you SURE Baez is so streaky?
Yes, he’s pretty streaky. I can’t speak for the ops but if you look at all his hitting statistics he will definitely have months where he absolutely rakes and then a month where he is horrendous with maybe a few bombs sprinkled in with the 30 strikeouts. In 2019 his production after the all star break was pretty bad. Last year I think he had a solid 0-32 streak. I have no doubt if they played 162 he would of had a month where he tore it up to even those stats out. This might be more of an observation watching a lot of cubs games too.
I have to see his numbers with RISP; RISP and 2 outs; BA in close late games – 7th inning on. Too many Cubs have fallen down in these areas in the last 3 years.
If you look at the “heart” in 2019, these are their OPS with RISP, Late and Close and RISP with 2 outs:
KB: .887/ 1.125/.995
JB: 1.069/.700 ( 1.361)
AR .991/.707/.883
WC .868/.596/.812
Schwarber I left off, he was good with RISP but his clutch stats were awful.
Outside of Bryant, the Cubs struggled late and close but ultimately, RISP and picking up the 2 out RBI they were all pretty good.
The problem the Cubs have had as a whole is the line up construction and the ability to “keep the train moving”. I fully supported letting Kyle go for this reason. They need/needed a bottom of the line up with more contact and Happ proved himself a capable player last season who plays better defense, is cheaper but also has too much swing and miss.
In a freer spending world, I would sign Tommy LaStella to play third (despite his defensive short comings) Kolton Wong to play second, Move KB to left, Happ mans center, Hoerner to AAA to improve his offensive game. I’d have gold glove defense (like in 2016) at short, second, first, and right. I’ve greatly improved my outfield defense with KB over Kyle (while also improve the outfields numbers against left handed pitching) I’ve added two contact oriented hitters at the bottom of the line up and it shouldn’t have cost me more than a 16 million or so AAV.
Then I would pivot and add either Tanaka, Odorizzi or TJ Walker.
I don’t like your acquisitions – La Stella and Wong wouldn’t necessarily make the Cubs better. La Stella at 2B maybe. Wong’s been up and down. Can’t have defensive shortcomings at 3B. Better off with KB at 3B if they keep him. Have to think more about the pitchers. I’ll buy your stats that you noted, But the “late and close” is what counts. They probably padded their stats in situations that were not “late and close”. If those stats that you showed were truly indicative of what they did in 2019, then they wouldn’t have collapsed like they did in September when they lost 10 of their last 12. This team has proven over the last 3 years that they don’t perform well enough in the clutch. They have to change the makeup of the team and add players with a better approach at the plate and who know how to situationally hit. Rizzo and Nico are above-average, IMO. I see Nico have good ABs late in games, fouling off pitches and making solid contact often. I see him at 2B. BTW – Schwarber’s career BA w/RISP: .199. With 2 outs – .168. “Late and close” – .193. Also, RISP = 1K every 3.3 AB. “late and close” = 1K every 2.4 AB. RISP = 1 RBI every 2.65 AB, BUT “Late and close” = 1 RBI every 7 AB. KB’s numbers were surprisingly decent for his career.
Have you watched Wong play? He would make this team instantly better and easily the most over looked free agent in this market.
You broached the subject of RISP, Late and close and RISP w/2 outs… how does this look?
.283/.368/.407-RISP
.310/.403/.448 RISP 2 outs
.318/.384/.485 late and close.
3 of Wong’s past four years he has been a monster in the clutch all while providing the best defense at second base in the league. He gives nothing but professional at bats and and is a constant thorn in the side of opposing pitchers (especially Cub pitchers)
Hoerner I really like but he is not ready for a full-time MLB role. We need to hit pause and let him actually develop into a capable MLB hitter. Defensively, yes, absolutely ready and he has a bright future which is why you develop him a little longer and have options with him. If you sign Wong, you can put Nico at third (negating TLS poor defense) or CF when KB leaves or is traded and move Happ to LF where he can be a plus defender.
Also, you can negate a lot of La Stella’s struggles at third when you have gold glove defenders everywhere else (which is why you don’t want him at second) our pitching staffs direction is going to be very clear, pitch to contact and locate. You’ll see them with a lot of low and outside pitches against righties which will cause lazy pop ups if you try to pull or hit a lot of ground balls right into the strength of the defense right and up the middle.
IMO, you are looking at individual stats vs. team building. A strong right side defense allows you pitcher to game plan as such, the fact that the right side would consist of GG’s in RF, 1b, 2b and SS is a huge plus. Not to mention TLS defense would be aided by Javy’s range. Bryant is an average defender at best at third but has always looked very good in the outfield, yeah he makes mistakes from time to time because he doesn’t play their everyday but he makes great reads, gets good jumps and has an arm. He would be a plus defender in LF, Happ is an average defender in CF and Heyward is elite in RF. Which again would help pitchers game plan.
As far as line up construction, you’ve add two contact hitters to the bottom of the line up, Wong doesn’t need platooned (Heyward, Happ and LaStella should be), you have 6/7/8 hole hitters who put the ball in play, give you professional at bats, and are good at situational hitting, the negative is all three, Heyward, Wong and LaStella are left handed.
A small measure of good news in an otherwise miserable offseason for Cubs fans like myself. The White Sox fan half-of-me is definitely happier!
You are a rare bird. I know very few avid baseball fans that actually root for both teams. The casual fair weather fan goes with whatever way the wind blows. Only my hatred of the Cards beats the white Sox
I used to root for both teams, too, since they never played each other until interleague play started. Chicago baseball has been so bad that it was rare for both teams to be good at the same time. So, you could usually just pay attention to one more than the other. After the Cubs won the World Series (which was a lot more fun than the Sox winning their World Series) and moving out of Chicago, I decided to “choose a side” and am staying with the Cubs. I certainly will not hate the Sox though and hope they do well with their new core in the upcoming years.
And yeah, the Cards can drink in hell with Oscar Taveras.
The Oscar Taveras comment was not necessary. Come on man.
For the other side of the comment, I generally root for both sides as well (obviously more of a Cub fan but like it when the Sox do well). I don’t really see a rivalry between the two teams that makes me take sides. I will say however, there are a couple Sox fans on here that have irrational hatred for their big brother.
As someone whose favorite cousin was killed by a drunk driver, the Oscar Taveras comment was completely necessary.
I’m sorry to hear about your cousin but even still it wasn’t an appropriate comment. Everyone has made mistakes in their lives.
Driving drunk isn’t a mistake
Aaron is a delirious Sox fan, I guarantee. Check his posts.
Aaron needs to write for mlb TradeRumors, he’s extremely informative and unbiased. He’s a rare breed who roots for both teams and doesn’t just bash the other for no reason unlike other cub/Sox fan’s commenting.
I root for both teams when they’re not playing each other. Cubs fans are hard to stomach though. Sox fans are smarter and less delusional.
I am a rare bird, especially as a die-hard fan of both teams in a Chicago market that generally considers it to be taboo.
I’m 65 years old which could account for some of my split baseball personality. When I first became a fan in the early 1960’s, there was no interleague play. The White Sox trained in Florida, the Cubs in Arizona. There was no interaction between the teams aside from a local charity exhibition game that was usually played in May on a common off-day for both when each were in town. More importantly, both teams had their TV games broadcast on WGN.
The single most important factor was that I was not born into a Cubs or White Sox family. My parents were casual sports fan at best and didn’t have a particular affinity for either team. They became more fanatical about sports, especially baseball, because of my interest and participation.
Because of my split devotion, my two children also grew up fans of both teams even with the advent of interleague play and when the White Sox joined the Cub for spring training in Arizona.
WGN continued to broadcast both teams, although they became the definitive home of the Cubs when the White Sox began airing more of their games on a UHF channel and some on pay TV when Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn bought the team from Bill Veeck. Einhorn was an early pioneer in subscription TV sports and the White Sox jumped into pay-per-view ahead of the other franchises aside of the Bulls who were also owned by Reinsdorf. Eventually, all Chicago teams aside from the NFL Bears transitioned to cable and away from free over-the-air broadcast. The White Sox, Bulls, Cubs and Blackhawks also shared in and were co-partners on a local Comcast TV channel until the Cubs split away to form their own network last year.
I have to say it’s tough shelling out extra money now for both teams, especially for people like myself who are retired or semi-retired. It will probably be easier if and when I retire to a market outside of Chicago when I wouldn’t also have to deal with so many black-out rules governing my two favorite teams.
As a side note, my daughter happened to marry a die-hard Cubs fan who actually never hated the White Sox. He grew up on the Northside of Chicago in a big family of Cubs fans. He was a fan of NL baseball and indifferent to the White Sox and the AL. Over time, he actually became a White Sox fan. He worked downtown where it was more convenient to attend White Sox games during the week and in the evening. It was also becoming increasingly more difficult to find Cubs tickets which were also far more expensive, something that became even more of an issue with a new young family. My son-in-law bought into the White Sox cheap partial season ticket plan for multiple years that had games in April and May being dirt cheap. When he or my daughter couldn’t attend games he would invite me (my wife is indifferent to sports, lol) or his friends to join him. Over time, his Cubs fan brothers and sisters also became involved in the ticket share and have also become White Sox fans. How cool is that!
Nice story Aaron. About two-thirds of the way through I started thinking, “why not a second Toronto MLB team for the NL?”
It will probably never happen, but the market size and the full push from the entire country of Canada is real. 2015 and 2016, 35+ million stood behind the Blue Jays. I’d be down for a second MLB team. This idea is a total pipe dream. However, Toronto should get a second MLB team before Montreal is ever considered for another one. In fact, Montreal should be the 2nd Toronto team’s AA squad.
I’d be in your boat, rooting for both baseball teams in Chicago.
I have many people I love that are Sox fans. 162 games of trash talk text is also part of the fun. I’d honestly rather have the yankees win a World Series than see the Sox win one. I had to hear about 2005 for 11 years. Not to mention 4-5 of the most annoying posters on this site are all Sox fans. Actually not sure if they are Sox fans or cubs haters, it’s hard to tell but they all have Sox it the title. There is a good chance it’s all the same person too.
I never realized you were a cubs fan. How? You always have great Sox insight. You ever get medically cleared from a doctor?
I could easily get “cleared from a doctor” because my daughter happens to be a physician. lol
I generally comment on both teams. It’s bit easier and a lot more fun to comment on the White Sox these days. I tend to be a positive person so there’s also that.
It wasn’t too long ago when the Cubs where emerging out of a rebuild and when the White Sox were “mired in mediocrity’. It appears the opposite may be happening now.
I actually enjoy commenting on teams as they undergo a rebuild as much as when they are winning. It’s the in-between that become frustrating , especially for a person who tries to maintain a positive attitude, something I recommend for everyone and not something I always did myself in the past. Live and learn, they say!
The one thing I do not want to become is the stereotypical old curmudgeon. It might be “bad for my constitution” and not something I want to mess with in my golden years. 🙂
They avoided arbitration, now Baez needs to avoid striking out so often.
Brilliant observation.
Javy has a tremendous ability to swing at 57’ pitches. Some day I believe he will even hit one.
Hey Cubs ….since I get a pension and social security I can play for free. That should fit into your budget