Javier Baez Declines Opt Out; Will Play Out Tigers Contract
In a surprise to absolutely nobody, Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez declined to exercise his opt-out clause and will remain in the Motor City, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Baez will make $98 million in the final four years of his contract.
Baez’s tenure in Detroit has been a disappointment. In two seasons, he has a slash line of .230/.273/.361. Additionally, his strikeout woes have been evident, as he has been fanned 272 times while only walking 50 times. The production has not been up to standard, considering he makes approximately $24 million per season.
Baez’s decision helped little suspense. If he would have tested free agency, he would have left millions on the table. Instead, he will continue to be one of the most overplayed players in the league.
It is not a secret that the Baez contract is horrid. The deal was one of the final nails in Al Avila’s coffin and contributed to his firing–among several other decisions.
The only question regarding Baez is, how bad will his contract get? If his age 29 and 30 seasons were a disappointment, how will he look at age 31 through 34? It is hard to see optimism with the two-time All-Star.
The Detroit Tigers will still have a fair amount of cash at its disposal come free agency. The team’s payroll was $120 million in 2023. As they enter the offseason, its projected payroll sits at $79 million. That drop is a result of Miguel Cabrera moving into a front-office role and Eduardo Rodriguez electing to opt out of his contract.
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