Baez rejoined the Tigers on Monday after hitting .368 with one home run, three doubles, six RBI and zero walks against three strikeouts over five games for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.
Baez was a standout performer for Puerto Rico in the tournament, as in addition to his exploits at the plate, he impressed with a few dazzling plays in the field at second base. He'll move back to his usual spot at shortstop now that he's back at Tigers camp, and the team brass will be hoping that the strong showing on the international stage will help invigorate Baez after he endured a rough first season in Detroit upon signing a six-year, $140 million deal last winter. Despite his excellent showing in the WBC, Baez hasn't carried that form over to the Grapefruit League, where he's slashing .136/.130/.227 with no walks and four strikeouts in eight games.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Future with team uncertain
Rotowire
Baez can opt out of his contract after the upcoming season, and it's unclear if he'll remain in Detroit beyond 2023, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Baez had a disappointing first season in Detroit after signing a six-year, $140 million deal, posting just a .671 OPS and hitting only 17 home runs after recording 31 long balls in 2021. Entering his age-30 season, Baez will be looking to rebound, and if he does, he may want to test free agency again next offseason. The rebuilding Tigers may also look to trade him at some point in 2023, particularly if the shortstop plays well and Detroit can acquire solid prospects in return.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Not starting Game 2
Rotowire
Baez is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mariners.
Baez went 0-for-5 with a strikeout during Game 1 and will take a seat for the nightcap. Ryan Kreidler will replace the veteran at shortstop for Game 2.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Snaps Kirby's homerless streak
Rotowire
Baez went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Monday's 4-3 win over Seattle.
Seattle starter George Kirby entered the contest having gone 14 starts since serving up his last long ball, but Baez snapped that streak with his two-run shot in the third inning on an 0-2 slider. The homer was Baez's 18th of the campaign, giving him an outside chance of reaching 20 for his fifth straight full season (excluding the substantially shortened 2020 campaign). Baez's power has ticked up near the end of the season, as he has five long balls over his past 16 contests.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Steps out of lineup
Rotowire
Baez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.
Baez started the past 12 games and will receive a day off after he posted a .245/.275/.449 slash line with three home runs and seven RBI during that stretch. Ryan Kreidler will start at shortstop and bat ninth in the series finale.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Goes deep Thursday
Rotowire
Baez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Thursday's 10-3 win over the Royals.
Baez played a big role in the blowout win with his 16th home run of the season leading the way. He's still just over half of the way to the 31 long balls he hit in 2021, as his production has dipped across the board in his first year with the Tigers. Baez is still capable of breaking out in 2023, and he figures to come at a discount in fantasy drafts.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Stays hot Saturday
Rotowire
Baez went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 7-2 victory versus the White Sox.
Baez scored on a Harold Castro homer in the first inning and put the game out of reach with his three-run smash to center field in the seventh. He finished with his eighth multi-game in September. Baez is batting .354 (28-for-79) with four homers, 14 RBI and a stolen base through 21 games this month.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Hits 14th home run
Rotowire
Baez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Sunday's loss to the White Sox.
Baez was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to right knee soreness, though he did record a single as a pinch hitter. He kept it rolling Sunday with his 14th home run of the season, and the veteran is now batting .379 this month with three home runs and 11 RBI. Baez's overall numbers don't look as good, but at least he's showing some positive signs heading into 2023, which could be a bounceback campaign.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Starting at DH
Rotowire
Baez (knee) is starting at designated hitter and batting third Sunday against the White Sox.
Baez entered Saturday's game as a pinch hitter after tweaking his knee during a play at the plate in Friday's game. He is swinging a hot bat, slashing .370/.404/.593 with two home runs and one steal in 15 games this month.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Dealing with right knee soreness
Rotowire
Baez was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the White Sox due to right knee soreness.
Baez was removed from Saturday's lineup a few hours before the start of the game and is apparently dealing with a knee issue. The severity of the injury isn't yet clear, but he should tentatively be considered day-to-day.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Scratched from Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Baez was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the White Sox for an undisclosed reason.
Baez has been productive recently, going 5-for-7 with a home run, a triple, a double, two runs and a stolen base over the last two games. However, he was removed from Saturday's lineup a few hours before the start of the game. The reason for his removal isn't yet clear, but Ryan Kreidler will take his place at shortstop and bat seventh.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Collects three hits, swipes bag
Rotowire
Baez went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, a run scored, a stolen base and a walk in Friday's 3-2 win over the White Sox.
Baez fell a homer shy of the cycle Friday while stealing his ninth base of the year. Despite a mostly down year from the veteran infielder, he's now gone 19-for-53 (.358) with six extra-base hits in 14 games this month. Still, he's slashing just .238/.280/.386 with 54 runs scored through 128 games this season.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Powers offense with blast
Rotowire
Baez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Astros.
Baez was the only Detroit player with multiple hits and obviously the only one to score or drive anyone in on his 13th home run of the year in the seventh inning. The shortstop has had a disappointing first season with the Tigers overall, though he's been better this month with a .320 average, two home runs and nine RBI across 13 games. Baez will likely come at a discount in 2023 fantasy drafts, but his track record suggests he's capable of bouncing back.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Scores twice in win
Rotowire
Baez went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and an RBI triple while also scoring two runs in Saturday's win over the Royals.
Baez doubled home Victor Reyes in the third inning, then sent Reyes home again on a triple in the fifth. Baez also reached home on two Harold Castro singles, one in the third and one in the fifth. Baez has started to heat up this month, going hitless in just one of nine games and slashing .353/.389/.529. The veteran shortstop also has a home run, eight RBI and five runs during that span and has raised his season batting average from .223 to .233.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Delivers two hits in loss
Rotowire
Baez (undisclosed) went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Royals.
Baez was lifted early from Saturday's contest with an apparent injury, though no more information was provided. It seems like the issue was minor, as the shortstop didn't miss any time and was able to produce in Sunday's game. Baez should be good to go moving forward, and he'll look to stay hot, as he's batting .345 over his last eight games.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Good to go Sunday
Rotowire
Baez (undisclosed) is starting at shortstop and batting third Sunday against the Royals, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Baez departed Saturday's contest with an unspecified injury, but it doesn't appear to be a serious concern since he's back in the lineup for Sunday's series finale. The 29-year-old shortstop is 8-for-25 with a home run, three walks, four RBI and four runs over his past seven contests.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Leaves Saturday's game
Rotowire
Baez exited Saturday's game against the Royals with an apparent injury, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
It wasn't obvious what forced Baez from the game. However, McCosky notes that Baez had a rough night physically, as he was slid into at second base and appeared to tweak something while chasing a flyball in the first inning. Baez singled twice prior to leaving and should be considered day-to-day heading into Sunday's series finale.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Hits 12th home run
Rotowire
Baez went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Friday's win over the Royals.
The home run was Baez's 12th of the season and first since Aug. 11. He actually hit just the one long ball last month, but the shortstop is notoriously streaky, so a power surge could come at any time. It's been a disappointing first season in Detroit overall for Baez, though he still has the talent to make an impact for fantasy managers down the stretch.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Good to go Tuesday
Rotowire
Baez (back) will start at shortstop and bat third Tuesday against the Mariners.
Baez was pulled late in Sunday's 9-8 win over the Rangers due to back stiffness, but Monday's team off day seems to have provided the 29-year-old with enough time to move past the injury. He'll head into Tuesday's series opener sporting a .239/.278/.315 slash line for the month of August.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Removed with back injury
Rotowire
Baez was removed from Sunday's win over the Rangers due to back stiffness, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The 29-year-old also missed Wednesday's game against Pittsburgh due to a back issue, but manager A.J. Hinch didn't sound too concerned about Baez's current injury following Sunday's removal. Baez went 1-for-3 with a run, a walk and a strikeout prior to exiting Sunday's game, and he'll have at least one day to rest ahead of Tuesday's series opener against Seattle.
