Few players in baseball are capable of getting tongues wagging the way that Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez does.
Whether it’s his flamboyant tags, his aggressive swing, or his fun-loving demeanor, Baez has endeared himself to Cubs fans, and his 23 home runs this season definitely helped to cement his place among the most popular athletes on the Chicago sports landscape.
Aside from the bravado and the power, how did Baez do this season? We take on that question in today’s player evaluation.
Player Overview:
Baez appeared in 145 games for the Cubs this season, a career high. He slugged 23 home runs and drove in 75 RBI for the Cubs, both of which were career highs. He also struck out 144 times and batted .273 in his second full year.
Contract Status:
Baez remains under team control through next season, and will be eligible for arbitration for the first time after the 2018 season. He will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2021 season, joining other big-name Cubs that could hit the market that year.
Chicago Baseball
That list includes Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Addison Russell, among others.
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nArguably the best pitching free agent on the market, Arrieta is going to command a big salary when he becomes available. The 2015 Cy Young winner doesn’t have the innings on his arm that most other pitchers of his age do, and he has made it clear that he won’t accept much, if any, of a discount from the Cubs, so it seems unlikely that he will return.
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nThe Cubs were forced to make moves to replace Miguel Montero before the trade deadline, and Avila proved to be a valuable piece, playing strong defense and bringing surprising pop from the catcher’s spot. The team may prefer to use Taylor Davis or Victor Caratini as a back-up to Willson Contreras this season, but it’s possible that they could sign a veteran instead.
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nThe Cubs’ bullpen had some serious issues in 2017, but Davis was far from the problem, as he converted all but one save attempt and was a lockdown reliever for the team. With the struggles of the team’s bullpen in the postseason, it’s possible that Theo Epstein and company could open their checkbooks for Davis, but it seems unlikely given their track record of not shelling out big bucks for bullpen arms.
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nDuensing had a strong season for the Cubs after a rocky start to the campaign, and he’ll be looking to get some extra coin in free agency. It’s unclear at this point if he’ll remain with the team, or if another club will offer him a significant raise, but the Cubs should be interested if he stays within their price range.
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nWith Kyle Schwarber struggling at the plate and Albert Almora struggling to hit against right-handed pitching this season, Jay became a valuable tool for Joe Maddon, batting lead-off and playing center field frequently. The team may opt to go for a more reliable lead-off option for next season, but Jay can’t be ruled out as a possible returning outfielder.
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nAfter a lengthy career, Lackey is likely done as a big league pitcher, but there’s always an outside shot that he could return on a cheap deal. That being said, if he does ride off into the sunset, the Cubs are likely going to be looking to replace two-fifths of their rotation for next season, and it won’t be an interesting task.
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nThe other catcher the Cubs brought in before the playoffs, Rivera was a solid option after being claimed on waivers from the Mets. He could be an attractive buy-low option if the Cubs want to have a veteran backstop behind Contreras.
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nUehara certainly will not command as high a salary next season if he decides to continue pitching for the Cubs after injuries derailed him late in the year. Uehara may choose to retire or play overseas instead, but it seems a reunion with Chicago is unlikely.
Key Stats:
After dominating in the first two rounds of the playoffs in 2016, Baez went ice cold this October, going a staggering 0-for-20 in his first seven appearances for the Cubs. He did make up for it by slugging a pair of home runs in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, but he followed that up with an 0-for-3 performance in Game 5.
Best Game of 2017:
In a May 18 game against the Cincinnati Reds, Baez went 3-for-3 and reached base four times. The slugger hit a home run and drove in five RBI for the Cubs, lifting his batting average 20 points in a single game. The Cubs went on to win the contest 9-5.
Outlook for 2018:
Baez is constantly dangled as a potential trade chip for the Cubs, but the team’s front office has made it very clear that they don’t want to move him, even if it were to mean that they could get a cost-controlled starting pitcher to help bolster their rotation.
With Ben Zobrist seemingly taking a step back in 2017, it’s likely that Baez will once again see a ton of time at second base next season, but he could also see time at shortstop if Russell’s bat doesn’t start to come back around after a tough 2017 campaign.
Baez will definitely have to work on his plate discipline, as he struck out 144 times in 469 at-bats in the 2017 campaign. He did walk more often, drawing 30 free passes, and he did hit more home runs, but he’ll have to work on continuing to fine tune one of the most aggressive and free-wheeling swings in all of baseball.
