Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Monday during the team's end-of-season media session that he expects Baez (hip) to participate in spring training and have a "fighting chance" to be ready for Opening Day, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Baez underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in early September after dealing with a hip/back issue for much of the campaign. He slashed .184/.221/.294 in 2024 and has hit only .221/.262/.347 in his three seasons with the Tigers, but Harris expects the 31-year-old to have a role with the club in 2025. With three years and $73 million remaining on his contract, there wasn't much of a chance that the team was going to cut him loose at this point. Baez shouldn't be guaranteed anything in regards to playing time in 2025, although the hope is that, with better health, he could at least offer a solid glove at shortstop. Trey Sweeney was the Tigers' primary shortstop down the stretch of the regular season and playoffs and could have a leg up over Baez for the starting job there heading into spring training.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: To have season-ending hip surgery
Rotowire
The Tigers transferred Baez (hip) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
Per Chris McCosky of The Detroit News, Baez will undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right hip next week. The veteran shortstop has missed time with hip and back problems this season, although the two injuries seem to be related. The surgery closes the book on another disappointing season for Baez, who finishes with a .516 OPS over 80 games. He is still owed $73 million through 2027. Trey Sweeney and Ryan Kreidler will handle shortstop for Detroit down the stretch.
The Tigers placed Baez on the 10-day injured list due to lumbar spine and hip inflammation Friday.
The veteran shortstop battled right hip discomfort earlier in August and he'll now require a stint on the IL with hip and lumbar spine swelling. Baez spent nearly a month on the injured list from June 11 to July 8 due to lumbar spine inflammation as well. It's unclear how long he might be sidelined this time. Ryan Kreidler was recalled from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move, but Trey Sweeney should see the majority of the action at shortstop in Baez's absence.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Could need stint on IL
Rotowire
Baez is undergoing tests for an undisclosed injury and could require a trip to the 10-day injured list, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Baez dealt with a hip issue recently, although it's not clear whether that's what's bothering him now. Ryan Kreidler has joined the Tigers in Chicago for their series against the Cubs and will be added to the roster if Baez gets shut down. The veteran has been sharing the shortstop job with Trey Sweeney lately and hasn't made consecutive starts since Aug. 9-10.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Losing work to Trey Sweeney
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Baez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
Baez donned the Golden Sombrero in Tuesday's 3-1 loss, striking out in all four of his plate appearances, including with a runner on second base and two outs in the ninth inning. He now finds himself on the bench for the third time in five games, as he looks to have moved into a part-time role in the wake of shortstop prospect Trey Sweeney receiving a promotion to the big leagues. Baez owns a career-worst .514 OPS for the season and has turned in a .220/.262/.347 slash line (69 wRC+) since signing a six-year, $140 million contract with Detroit in November 2021.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Provides offense Thursday
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Baez went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Mariners.
Baez put Detroit on the board in the eighth inning with his sixth home run of the year. While the six long balls would be his fewest in a season since 2015, the shortstop has gone deep twice in his last three games and five times over his last 16 contests. It's mostly been a lost season for Baez, but this recent power surge could at least prop up his fantasy value during the stretch run if he's able to keep it going.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Managing hip issue
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Baez was scratched from the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners due to right hip discomfort, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Baez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer during Tuesday's contest, and it's unclear when he suffered the injury. The 31-year-old should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status. Zach McKinstry is starting at shortstop Wednesday with Baez banged up.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Back in lineup Thursday
Rotowire
Baez (hip) will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Thursday's game versus the Mariners.
Baez was a late scratch from the lineup ahead of Wednesday's 3-2 win over Seattle due to a hip issue, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Thursday's series finale. The Tigers will be going for a three-game sweep.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Scratched Wednesday
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Baez was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners for unspecified reasons.
Baez was scheduled to start at shortstop and bat ninth, but he's now been removed from the starting nine. It's unclear if he's dealing with an injury, but an update should be provided in the near future. Justyn-Henry Malloy will enter the lineup in Baez's place and start in left field, pushing Zach McKinstry to shortstop.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Goes deep in easy win
Rotowire
Baez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 15-1 win over the Mariners.
Baez connected for his fifth home run of the season and first this month. It's been a huge struggle overall for the shortstop, as he's still batting just .182 with a .508 OPS after Tuesday's contest. The OPS would be a new career worst for Baez. The 31-year-old's six-year, $140 million contract, which was signed before the 2022 season, continues to look like a massive sunk cost for the Tigers, though it figures to keep Baez locked into a starting job for the immediate future.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Not in Sunday's lineup
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Baez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Baez started the past two games after dealing with some neck soreness, but he'll exit the starting nine for Sunday's series finale in San Francisco. His .638 OPS through eight games in August is actually an improvement on his .499 OPS for the season. Zach McKinstry is starting at shortstop and batting seventh.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Swipes bag in return
Rotowire
Baez (neck) went 1-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Giants.
Baez swiped third base and then had no trouble scurrying home after a pair of errant throws by the Giants. He missed just one game with a bout of neck soreness. He's up to eight steals on nine attempts this year, with two of those thefts coming over seven contests in August. The shortstop is slashing just .181/.222/.277 with four home runs, 33 RBI, 23 runs scored and 12 doubles across 73 games.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Back in action Friday
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Baez (neck) will start at shortstop and bat eighth Friday against the Giants, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Baez was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup due to neck soreness, but he seems to be feeling well enough to return to the starting nine Friday. The 31-year-old infielder has been one of the worst hitters in the majors this season with a .493 OPS through 263 plate appearances, and he's gone 3-for-16 with an RBI since the start of August.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Dealing with neck soreness
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Baez is dealing with neck soreness, leading to his removal from the lineup Thursday against Seattle, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Baez was a late removal from the lineup, which is now understood to have been the result of a neck issue. The 31-year-old can be considered day-to-day until more information is available.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Late scratch Thursday
Rotowire
Baez was scratched from the lineup Thursday versus the Mariners.
Baez was originally slated to start at shortstop Thursday, but he'll now take a seat. It's unclear why he was scratched, but Zach McKinstry will take over at shortstop while Ryan Vilade enters the lineup in right field and bats ninth.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Activated but not in lineup
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The Tigers activated Baez (personal) from the bereavement list Thursday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Baez has been away this week while tending to other matters but will be active for the beginning of the team's four-game series against the Royals. He's not in Thursday's lineup, as the Tigers are giving Ryan Kreidler a start at shortstop.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Goes on family emergency list
Rotowire
The Tigers placed Baez (personal) on the family medical emergency list Monday.
By rule, Baez can miss 3-to-7 days while on the list, though the Tigers are hopeful that he'll rejoin the team in the minimum amount of time and be back in the lineup Thursday against the Royals, per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Ryan Kreidler was called up from Triple-A Toledo to replace Baez on the active roster and should see reps at shortstop along with Zach McKinstry.
