The Chicago Cubs will sit down with star shortstop Javier Baez to discuss a potential discussion once the Winter Meetings begin, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network:
Javier Baez’s reps and the Cubs are expected to sit down at the winter meetings to see if an extension is possible. Would be a whopper obvs. Cubs still need to figure out who from the core will be dealt.@GDubCub 1st mentioned Baez talks
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 26, 2019
Baez is under contract through 2021, which is the same winter that the likes of Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber. The Cubs have been rumored to be mulling numerous trade offers for some of their young stars–including Bryant and Willson Contreras–but Baez figures to remain in Chicago for the long haul.
The Bayamon, PR native has become one of the most beloved figures in Chicago sports for his exciting style of play and unmatched charisma.
Baez, who will turn 27 on Jan. 1, finished second in the National League MVP Award voting in 2018 while also leading the NL in RBIs. He followed that campaign with another excellent season in 2019, hitting 29 homers with an .847 OPS.
He is also one of the best defensive shortstops in the league. Baez ranked third among all shortstops in terms of defensive runs saved (15) and finished second in ultimate zone rating (10.0), according to FanGraphs.
The Cubs had the second-highest payroll in baseball on Opening Day, and owner Tom Ricketts has suggested that he will not increase payroll despite the team missing the postseason last year.
Baez is almost unquestionably the brightest star in Chicago. As the Cubs mull ways to remain competitive while also staying within payroll constraints, they figure to lock up Baez to a lucrative extension should the two sides reach an appropriate number.
That would certainly make Cub fans happy.
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