Javier Báez Stats
- Height / Weight
- 6' 0" / 190 lbs.
- Date of Birth (Age)
- 12/1/1992 (31)
- Experience
- 6
- College
- None
Javier Báez Season Stats
Last 10 Games
Javier Báez News
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez has opted in to the final four years and $98 million remaining on his contract with the club. The decision comes as no surprise as the veteran has struggled mightily at the plate with the Tigers since inking his six-year, $144 million deal with the club prior to the 2022 season. Baez hit just .238 with 17 home runs, nine stolen bases, and a .671 OPS in his first season in Detroit before cratering to a .222 average with nine HR, 12 SB, and a .592 OPS in the 2023 season. His 61 wRC+ in 2023 ranked 132nd of 133 qualified hitters, just one point ahead of Tim Anderson's 60 wRC+. Despite elite work with the glove at shortstop, the Tigers are now likely to give Baez nearly everyday reps regardless of his offensive production while he is on the books through the 2027 season.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (back) has returned to the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Oakland Athletics. The 30-year-old is back after missing each of the last three games due to a lower back issue. Baez will cover shortstop and bat seventh versus left-hander Ken Waldichuk on Friday. This season, Baez is slashing .217/.265/.318 with nine home runs and 58 RBI in 130 games. Fantasy managers who have Baez rostered can get him back in their lineups for Friday.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (back) was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers with lower-back tightness. Zack Short replaced him at shortstop. Until we know more on Baez's condition, consider him day-to-day heading into Wednesday's contest. The 30-year-old Puerto Rican has been a major disappointment in his second season in Detroit, hitting .217/.265/.318 with only nine home runs, 14 doubles, four triples, 58 RBI, 12 stolen bases and 56 runs scored in 130 games (525 plate appearances). He has only eight hits in 40 at-bats (.200) so far in 12 games (11 starts) in September with a homer, double, four RBI, 11 K's, a stolen base and three runs scored. In another lost season for Detroit, they could opt to shut Baez down with just under two weeks remaining on the schedule.
Batting Order
| 1 | Parker Meadows |
| 2 | Spencer Torkelson |
| 3 | Miguel Cabrera |
| 4 | Kerry Carpenter |
| 5 | Matt Vierling |
| 6 | Andy Ibáñez |
| 7 | Akil Baddoo |
| 8 | Javier Báez |
| 9 | Jake Rogers |
Javier Báez Stats
Last 10 Games
Batting Order
| 1 | Parker Meadows |
| 2 | Spencer Torkelson |
| 3 | Miguel Cabrera |
| 4 | Kerry Carpenter |
| 5 | Matt Vierling |
| 6 | Andy Ibáñez |
| 7 | Akil Baddoo |
| 8 | Javier Báez |
| 9 | Jake Rogers |
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez had his worst full season in 2022, slashing .238/.278/.393 with 17 HRs, 64 runs, and 64 RBI. Although he improved his strikeout rate by 8.7% (24.9%) from a year ago, he did himself no favors by chasing pitches at an alarming 47.5% rate (1st percentile) and swung at just 68.0% of pitches in the zone compared to his career mark of 72.9%. Baez wasn't hitting the ball hard either, posting an 8.0% barrel rate (52nd-percentile), 87.9 MPH average exit velocity (31st-percentile), and a .378 xSLG, with a move to Comerica Park only making things worse. The 30-year-old has lived off of high BABIPs throughout his time in the big leagues (career .328 BABIP), but it regressed to a more average .292 in 2022. Also, Baez's HR/FB came down to Earth with a 12.3% mark which barely compares to his career rate of 19.5%. He was still running a bit, swiping nine bases, but was nowhere close to the 18 he stole in '21, and he posted his worst sprint speed to date (66th percentile). Baez has a chance to bounce back if luck is on his side again, but fantasy managers shouldn't count on that. Steamer is penning him for a .241 average, 22 home runs, 10 stolen bases, 73 RBI, and 71 runs next season, which is not worth his 160 ADP.
