The Javier Báez plan: Buy a house, strengthen specific muscles, visit hitting guru

Welcome to the Javier Báez plan.

The overarching premise of the plan: Strengthening his back and core muscles to accommodate for his violent swing as he continues to age, then making swing changes to recapture his ability to create damage despite his free-swinging style.

He has been swinging the same way for his entire career, so him adopting a selective approach is a pipe dream — but overhauling his workout regimen and tweaking his swing mechanics in preparation for the 2024 season is already underway as he enters his age-31 season and the final four years of his contract.

A better version of Báez is capable of pushing the Detroit Tigers, one of the youngest teams in baseball, over the top in the American League Central and into the postseason in 2024. The next three months, leading up to spring training, will test his ability to stay disciplined in following the offseason plan.

So far, Báez is said to be motivated.

BEFORE THE PLAN: Tigers shortstop Javier Báez, another bad season and an uncertain path forward

The past two seasons — the first of a six-year, $140 million contract — were the worst seasons of Báez's 10-year career: He hit .230 with 26 home runs and a .634 OPS in 280 games. The former All-Star slugger was the second-worst qualified hitter in baseball during that stretch, only ahead of Cleveland's Myles Straw.

Báez, a 2016 World Series champion, hit .265 with 149 home runs and a .783 OPS in his first eight seasons spent with the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. He averaged 28 homers per 162 games from ages 21-28, then 15 homers per 162 games from ages 29-30.

In 2023, Báez 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.

His performance at the plate plummeted at a rapid rate due to the natural deterioration of his rotational strength. He also suffered from timing issues in his swing. The Tigers were forced to drop him to the bottom of the batting order — or leave him on the bench — in the second half of last season.

"We're trying to find solutions for him," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Oct. 2, the day after the season ended. "But it's hard whenever he says he can't see the ball, he's not seeing the ball well. That's not something that is necessarily a quick fix."

Now, Báez hopes to put the pieces back together.

"I think there are some things that we can change about his work, about the specific things he needs working on, to make some adjustments that help him both at the plate and in the field," Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Oct. 2. "We have some new ways we feel like we can support him this offseason, but it's going to take an organizational effort."

Detailing the plan

All of the ingredients are in place.

Báez purchased a home in Tampa, Florida, hired a new personal trainer to guide him through his workouts, plans to learn from a well-known personal hitting instructor and promises to stay in touch with the Tigers' hitting coaches throughout the offseason.

He will split time between Florida and Puerto Rico for the first time in his career.

The new trainer has been in contact with Tigers strength and conditioning coach Nelson Perez, as well as performance coach Shane Wallen. Báez's bat speed remains above average, but — as his body has aged into his 30s — he can't rely on natural athleticism to unleash his quick-twitch swing anymore. He needs more strength and flexibility in his back and core muscles.

GETTING TO KNOW HIM: Getting to know Javier Báez, from his Lamborghini to his incredible farm in Puerto Rico

It's worth noting the Tigers previously took steps to provide a comfortable first-class experience for Báez, similar to his stints in Chicago and New York, with new outfield dimensions, a revamped clubhouse, a luxury kitchen in the clubhouse and a new team plane.

Hinch visited Báez in Puerto Rico last offseason to learn more about him. The manager and the highest-paid player have a good relationship, both before and after Hinch benched Báez in mid-April for a mental mistake while running the bases. Báez also knows Harris and general manager Jeff Greenberg from the best years of his career with the Cubs.

One of the Tigers' hitting coaches is scheduled to visit Báez when his offseason program calls for him to transition from workouts to swings. The Tigers will send instructional videos to Báez, and Báez will send workout and swing videos to the Tigers.

The point is, the Tigers are trying to help Báez in every way possible.

"We often talk about them as adjustments, not swing changes," Harris said Nov. 7 at the general manager meetings. "He knows that he needs to make some adjustments. He's talked about it. I'll leave it to the actual hitting technicians to talk about the specifics of the adjustment."

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Aside from the Tigers, Báez plans to visit Richard Schenck for hitting lessons at some point before spring training, though nothing has been scheduled yet. Schenck teaches the concept of launch quickness, powered by a rearward move of the bat and a snap of the hands, and is known for transforming the careers of MLB players.

He worked with New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge before the 2017 season and Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter before the 2022 season, among others.

Judge crushed 52 home runs and won American League Rookie of the Year in 2017, then he launched 62 homers and won AL MVP in 2022; Carpenter, a former 19th-round draft pick, smacked 30 homers in the minor leagues in 2022, then he blasted 20 homers across 118 games with the Tigers in 2023.

Báez already implements a lot of the Schenck-taught movements into his mechanics, but his movements are too big and cause timing issues. It's no surprise that Báez failed to get himself into the optimal hitting position to be on time for fastballs last season.

Changing his swing path could be beneficial.

"I just want to worry about having my timing and having my trust," Báez said Oct. 1. "If I get a good swing and good contact, the ball is still going to go out, but it was my mentality trying to create more power, so I was jumpy and not seeing the ball well. I'm going to work on that."

For better, for worse

For now, Báez has a lot of plans for the offseason.

Nothing will change unless he stays committed to those plans over the next three months.

The Tigers are stuck with Báez, regardless of what happens this offseason, because he declined to exercise the opt-out clause in his six-year contract. Báez will make $98 million over the final four seasons of his contract, through the 2027 campaign.

When Báez was at his best, he would swing at everything and still create elite damage on pitches inside of the strike zone and outside of the strike zone. His swing decisions probably won't change, but by increasing his rotational strength and recalibrating his timing, he should get back to driving the ball.

If that happens, Báez could hit at least 20 home runs in 2024.

New plans are encouraging and a step in the right direction. Only time will tell whether or not Báez follows through on implementing the prescribed adjustments in the offseason. He is aware of his struggles, frustrated by his abysmal performance, and knows he needs to change if he wants to stay on the field for the duration of his contract with the Tigers.

He can't point the finger at anyone but himself.

"He didn't have the year that he wanted to have in 2023," Harris said, "so he's pretty fired up to make the adjustments that will help him have a better year next year."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: The Javier Báez plan: Buy a house, strengthen core, visit hitting guru