The Detroit Tigers’ shortstop intends to make significant changes this offseason.
Following a disastrous 2023 season, Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez intends to spend the majority of the offseason in the United States rather than returning to Puerto Rico.
This year, Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez plans to make significant changes to his offseason training.
Following a difficult season, Baez intends to spend the majority of the offseason in the United States rather than in Puerto Rico.
The information came from Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, and MLBTradeRumors has a summary (subscriber link to Petzold’s work included):
According to Petzold, Baez intends to work on strengthening his back and core muscles in order to regain the athleticism that allowed him to connect for 86 home runs from 2017 to 2019, the fourth highest total among qualified shortstops during that time period. If Baez, who turns 31 next month, can overcome father time and reclaim the power that carried his offensive profile in his youth, he will provide a massive boost to a Tigers team that finished fourth in the majors with a team-wide wRC+ of just 89 in 2023.
Getting Baez going again is a top priority for Detroit, which finished second in the American League Central and hopes to make another leap in 2024.
He hit.222 with a.267 on-base percentage last season. He hit nine home runs and drove in 59 runs in 136 games.
Baez is a two-time All-Star and a lifetime player.256-hitting player with 175 home runs and 591 RBI. He’s played for the Cubs, Mets, and Tigers, and he helped the Cubs win the World Series in 2016.
He’s under contract until 2027 and will earn $25 million next season.
