MLB Insider: Regrading the Tigers signing Javier Baez

The Detroit Tigers’ signing of Javier Baez last offseason came with plenty of risk. Just over 12 months later, it reached rock bottom.

At the time of signing, I made it clear that I didn’t like the Javier Baez addition for the Detroit Tigers. I thought they should have spent significant dollars on Carlos Correa, a player they had interest in before the lockout, instead of spending $140 million on Baez.

Here’s a take from a National League executive last offseason: “For me, he’s a piece of the puzzle but needs to be surrounded with the correct profiles or else the entire lineup will be streaky. Theo (Epstein) did a great job of keeping Baez around players like Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant and balancing that lineup out. If he is around other hackers one night they will score 12 runs and then for the next 3 nights they will get shut out.”

Here’s my take: “The Detroit Tigers had to add a shortstop. They weren’t going to pay Carlos Correa $300+ million despite his obvious connection to manager AJ Hinch. But I thought they could have done better than Baez.”

So far, that has proven correct. Last season, he hit a mere .238/.278/.393 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI, well below his career average slash line of .259/.301/.460. He has started off this season hitting a mediocre .122/.182/.146 and on Thursday, the signing reached a new low.

Tigers are regretting Javier Baez trade

Baez, TK, did not run hard out of the box after hitting a ball off the left field wall for a double off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt. In that same inning, Baez forgot how many outs there were, and was thrown out as he jogged to third following a fly out by Akil Baddoo with only one out.

Tigers manager AJ Hinch motioned to Baez to follow him down the tunnel. Baez was removed from the lineup, grabbed his things and headed back down the tunnel. Ouch.

The early returns on the six-year, $140 million contract have been disastrous for the Tigers. Baez has looked nothing like the player that the team expected. The good news for Baez and the Tigers is that things can only go up from here — I think, at least — and that there is still plenty of time for him to bounce back.

The bad news is that if this is a sign of things to come, Baez has almost five years and over $100 million left on his contract.

But it will get better. Just how much remains to be seen.

Regrade: C-