Javier Báez declines to exercise opt-out clause with four years, $98 million on contract
Javier Báez will return to the Detroit Tigers in 2024 after declining to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract.
Báez, who turns 31 in early December, will make $98 million over the final four seasons of his six-year contract with the Tigers. He is under contract through the 2027 season.
The former two-time All-Star shortstop — also a former Gold Glove winner, National League MVP runner-up and World Series champion — had a Saturday deadline if he wanted to opt out of his contract.
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Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who blocked a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2023 trade deadline, opted out of the final three seasons of his five-year contract with the Tigers, leaving $49 million on the table in favor of free agency.
Both decisions — Rodriguez to opt out, Báez to opt in — were expected.
Báez hit .222 with nine home runs, 24 walks (4.4% walk rate) and 125 strikeouts (22.9% strikeout rate) over 136 games in the 2023 season, posting an abysmal .593 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. The 10-year MLB veteran spent almost the entire second half of the season in the Nos. 6-8 spots in the batting order.
He hit .177 against four-seam fastballs and .195 against four-seam fastballs inside the strike zone, all while continuing to swing and miss at sliders outside of the strike zone.
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In the 2022-23 seasons, Báez hit .230 with 26 home runs and a .634 OPS across 280 games with the Tigers. His 75 wRC+, spanning the past two seasons, ranked 109th among 110 qualified hitters, ahead of only Cleveland Guardians outfielder Myles Straw.
He hit .265 with a .783 OPS in his first eight seasons, spent with the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.
Báez signed a six-year, $140 million contract with the Tigers in December 2021. The contract, structured by then-general manager Al Avila, included an opt-out clause after the second season. He also has a 10-team no-trade clause.
Báez will receive $25 million in 2024, $25 million in 2025, $24 million in 2026 and $24 million in 2027. The Tigers hope to fix him before the 2024 season begins.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Javier Báez sticks with Detroit Tigers with 4 years, $98M on contract
