Javier Baez Expected To Start Defensive Drills This Week
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (hip) has initiated a running program and is expected to begin light defensive drills later this week. Baez underwent season-ending hip surgery in August, but based on his current progress, he may be ready for Spring Training. Earlier this offseason, team president Scott Harris noted that the former World Series champion will have a role on the 2025 roster. Before the injury, the 32-year-old posted a .184/.221/.294 line with just six home runs and eight stolen bases. He generated a low .264 xwOBA and .345 xSLG. In addition, he posted a low 4.2% walk rate and a high 23.9% K rate. While he may have a role in the starting nine as the everyday shortstop, fantasy managers should keep Baez off their radar, given his lack of stable offensive output.
Javier Baez Expected To Be Ready For Spring Training
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (hip) is expected to be part of workouts in spring training in February after having surgery on his hip, according to president of baseball operations Scott Harris. Despite Baez's massive decline since joining the Tigers, the team still sees a role for him, particularly if his surgery helps him move more like he did when he was younger. The 31-year-old's 2024 season ended early in early September when he had surgery on his right hip. Perhaps his hip injury was part of the reason why he was atrocious again this year with a .184/.221/.294 slash line, six home runs, 37 RBI and eight stolen bases in just 80 games played. Since joining the Tigers in 2022, Baez has hit .221/.263/.347 with a .610 OPS, 32 homers, 163 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 360 games. He still has three years and $73 million left on his deal, but regular playing time won't be guaranteed to Baez in 2025.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (hip), who was moved to the 60-day injured list on Monday, will have season-ending arthroscopic right-hip surgery next week. Another hugely disappointing season comes to an end early for Baez. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican infielder has somehow gotten worse in each year in Detroit and will finish the 2024 campaign with a .184/.221/.294 slash line with a career-worst .516 OPS, six home runs, 37 RBI, eight steals and 25 runs scored in 289 plate appearances over 80 games played. Given how bad he's been in his tenure with Detroit, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Tigers move in another direction heading into 2025. With Baez now out for the rest of this year, rookie Trey Sweeney should see most of the starts at the 6, although Ryan Kreidler could also mix in for the Tigers.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (undisclosed) is undergoing some tests on Friday for an undisclosed injury and could need to be placed on the 10-day injured list, depending on the results of his tests. Infielder Ryan Kreidler will be with the Tigers on Friday night in Chicago for the series against the Cubs just in case the Tigers eventually put Baez on the IL. The 31-year-old Baez continues to be a source of major disappointment for the Tigers and isn't even on the fantasy radar in mixed leagues at this point. The Puerto Rican infielder has hit rock bottom in 2024, slashing .184/.221/.294 with a .516 OPS, six home runs, 37 RBI, eight steals and 69 strikeouts in 289 plate appearances over 80 games played. Rookie infielder Trey Sweeney had already been sharing playing time with Baez at the 6, so if Baez hits the shelf, he'll see even more playing time in the near future.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. The 31-year-old made his return to Wrigley Field on Tuesday. The fans gave Baez a warm welcome, but that didn't help him as he went hitless with four strikeouts. That performance should shock no one considering Baez is hitting .182 with six home runs and 37 RBI in 79 games this season. In his place, Trey Sweeney will cover shortstop and bat eighth versus right-hander Jameson Taillon. Sweeney recently earned a call-up to the big leagues. He has only played in two games, but was hitting .267 with 15 home runs and 71 RBI in 107 games in Triple-A this season. He probably won't be a viable streaming option, but he should give the Tigers lineup more production than Baez.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. The organization has not said why Baez has been pulled from the lineup yet. Regardless, his absence from the lineup won't matter much considering Baez has been awful this season. Zach McKinstry will take over at shortstop and bat eighth versus right-hander Bryan Woo. McKinstry hasn't been much better with the bat as he's hitting .202 with 14 RBI against right-handed pitching this season. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for a streaming option for Wednesday's slate. There should be more information on Baez after the game. UPDATE: Baez is dealing with right-hip discomfort.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (neck) was a late scratch from the lineup for Thursday's game at T-Mobile Park versus the hosting Seattle Mariners due to neck soreness. The lefty-hitting Zach McKinstry replaced Baez at shortstop for Detroit, while Ryan Vilade joined the lineup in right field to bat ninth against Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo. Baez should be deemed day-to-day ahead of Friday's series opener against the hosting San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. The 31-year-old former All-Star continues to be a complete disaster for both the Tigers and his fantasy managers in 2024, slashing .179/.221/.272 with just four home runs, 11 doubles, 33 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 246 at-bats this year. McKinstry and Andy Ibanez would likely share at-bats at short if Baez's absence extends beyond Thursday's series finale.
The Detroit Tigers announced on Monday that they placed infielder Javier Baez on the medical emergency/bereavement list and recalled infielder Ryan Kreidler from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move. Baez will be out for three to seven days, but the Tigers believe he'll be back on the short end of that timeline and be ready to go for Thursday's contest against the division-rival Kansas City Royals. With the 31-year-old away from the team on Monday, Kreidler made the start at the 6 against the Cleveland Guardians and went 1-for-2 in the 8-4 loss. Some combination of Kreidler and Zach McKinstry should see starts at short until Baez is back with Detroit. Baez has hit rock bottom in 2024 and is currently slashing .178/.210/.274 with four homers, 32 RBI and six steals in 230 at-bats.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez is getting a day off on Tuesday as the team faces the hosting division-rival Cleveland Guardians. Baez missed the first game out of the All-Star break last Friday due to a minor back injury but then played in the next three games, going 2-for-12 (.167) with six strikeouts and a run scored. Things just keep getting worse for the former two-time All-Star. Baez has gone 4-for-27 (.148) with a double, two walks and seven strikeouts in nine games in the month of July and is slashing a miserable .178/.212/.239 on the year with only one home run, 25 RBI and six stolen bases. If the 31-year-old Puerto Rican infielder doesn't start showing signs of the life at the plate soon, he could start opening on the bench more often in favor of Zach McKinstry, who is starting at the 6 and batting eighth on Tuesday against Guardians right-hander Xzavion Curry.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (back) is back at shortstop and is hitting seventh for the Tigers on Saturday against the hosting Toronto Blue Jays and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi. Baez will be back in Detroit's lineup for the first time since last Saturday. He had the All-Star break to rest up this week but still wasn't in the lineup for the series opener on Friday in Toronto to kick off the second half of the season. The 31-year-old has avoided the injured list, though, and will be available to fantasy managers in AL-only leagues on Saturday. It seems like ages ago that Baez was a two-time All-Star for the Chicago Cubs. He's declined each year since joining Detroit in 2022 and is currently slashing .179/.215/.244 with just one homer, 25 RBI and six steals in 59 games in 2024. Baez has hit .250 with two RBI in just four career at-bats against Kikuchi.
Javier Báez
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Tigers
