The Chicago Cubs are without a doubt going to be one of the most intriguing teams to keep an eye on during the MLB offseason. With quite a bit of money to spend and quite a few needs to focus on, the Cubs could be making quite a few moves in the near future. Jed Hoyer and company have a lot of work to do to get back to World Series contention and it all starts with this offseason.
Rumors have been flying all over the place about the Cubs already this offseason. From potential reunions with old stars to potentially signing names like Marcus Stroman and Corey Seager, no one truly knows what to expect from Chicago.
However, there is one player that the Cubs must consider signing. In fact, they must consider re-signing this player. Who else would it be other than Javier Baez, who was traded by the Cubs to the New York Mets ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
Baez has been a longtime star for the Cubs and is a major fan favorite. His flashy plays with his glove and his big bat have been a source of extreme entertainment for fans on the north side of Chicago over the last eight years. Bringing him home would be something that every Cubs fan would love to see the team do.
During the 2021 MLB season, Baez played 91 games with the Cubs and 47 games with the Mets. In his Chicago stint, he hit 22 home runs to go along with 65 RBI's and a .248 batting average. With the Mets, Baez compiled a .299 batting average to go along with nine home runs and 22 RBI's.
All of that being said, let's dive in and take a look at three reasons why the Cubs must consider re-signing Javier Baez this offseason.
The Cubs And Javier Baez Situation
3. His Ability To Sell Tickets In Chicago And The Love The City Has For Him
Let's be honest, the Cubs are still going to have a high level of interest in selling tickets and making fans happy. There are few players who have been able to ignite the Cubs' fan base like Baez has been able to throughout his career. Baez has made huge plays, helped win a World Series, and still has a long future ahead of himself in his prime.
Out of the available free agents the Cubs could bring in, Baez is one of the best options. A reunion with Baez would bring back a staple of the organization.
Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are also free agents, but both of those players are either too pricey for the Cubs or are aging. It would be amazing to see Rizzo or Bryant head home to Chicago, but Baez is without a doubt the best option.
2. The Cubs Want To Bring In An Elite Shortstop
One of the big priorities for Hoyer and the Cubs this offseason has reportedly been adding an elite shortstop. Among the names that have been mentioned are Baez, Corey Seager, and Carlos Correa. Out of those three names, Cubs fans would welcome Baez ahead of the other two names.
Chicago is simply the kind of city that Baez thrives playing in. The fans are usually supportive, unlike what he ran into with the Mets. In fact, Baez alienated quite a few fans when he fired back at their booing, and it didn't sit well with that fan base.
Baez returning to Chicago seems like something that would be perfect for both sides. He is comfortable with the Cubs and the Cubs would love to have his skill-set on both sides of the ball. This is something that is too perfect for Chicago to not consider.
1. Baez Would Fit In With The Current Direction
Finally, the Cubs are going to look at players that fit the direction their franchise is heading. No one is expecting Chicago to be a World Series favorite next season. The process of getting back to that level will take two or three years.
With Baez being just 28 years old right now, he fits the long-term view of the plan for the Cubs. He could come in and be a huge impact player immediately and maintain that ability for years. If the Cubs are going to spend big money on a player this offseason, why not spend it on a player who is already a fan favorite, has contributed to a World Series win for the franchise, and fits the exact direction the team is heading?
Baez has had his issues with being wild at the plate and has had some defensive consistency issues. However, the vast majority of his time in Chicago was a huge success. Running that back with the Cubs makes perfect sense.
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