The Chicago Cubs have opened contract negotiations with shortstop Javier Baez, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Wittenmyer knows that an extension with Baez is considered “much more feasible” than one with third baseman Kris Bryant, who, like Baez, hits free agency in two years.
Baez is coming off a 2019 campaign in which he slashed .281/.316/.531 with 29 home runs, 38 doubles and 85 RBI over 561 plate appearances en route to an All-Star appearance.
The 26-year-old was originally selected by the Cubs with the ninth overall pick of the 2011 MLB Draft.
He made his big-league debut in 2014, playing in 52 games and slashing .169/.227/.324 with nine long balls and 20 RBI across 229 trips to the dish. He then only appeared in 28 contests the following year.
It wasn't until 2016 that Baez became a full-time starter for Chicago, slashing .273/.314/.423 with 14 dingers and 59 RBI through 450 plate appearances, helping the Cubs win their first World Series title since 1908.
The Puerto Rican continued to show improvement in 2017, registering a slash line of .273/.317/.480 with 23 homers and 75 RBI over 508 trips to the plate. In 2018, Baez broke out, slashing .290/.326/.554 with 34 home runs, 40 doubles and 111 RBI, making his first All-Star and finishing second in NL MVP voting in the process.
While Baez struggles in terms of plate discipline, he has elite power for his position and is coming off a season in which he was one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball.
Chicago won 84 games in 2019, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. The Cubs' poor season resulted in the club and manager Joe Maddon going separate ways. Chicago then hired David Ross, a member of the 2016 championship team, as its new skipper.
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