Baez was released by the Padres on Dec. 18.
Baez signed out of Cuba for $3 million back before the 2017 season and quickly rose to top-50 prospect status, but his career has been sidetracked by injury issues and also control problems. The 6-foot-8 right-hander spent most of 2023 split between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso, collecting a 7.18 ERA and 28:30 K:BB over 36.1 frames between the two stops. He'll turn 28 next month.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Baez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso by the Padres on Monday.
Baez is no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. He'll be used in a relief role with El Paso.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Baez was designated for assignment by the Padres on Thursday.
Baez got the boot from the 40-man roster as the Padres finalized their Opening Day squad. The 27-year-old right-hander has logged only 6.2 innings at the major-league level since the end of the 2019 season.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Optioned to minors
Rotowire
Baez was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Friday.
Baez made two appearances in the majors last season for San Diego, allowing just one hit and no earned runs. However, he will need to improve upon his 8.44 ERA and 2.13 WHIP in Triple-A from last season before the team can feel comfortable keeping him in the majors.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Baez was optioned to Triple-A El Paso ahead of Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against Colorado.
Baez was called up last week and will head back to the minors after delivering a scoreless inning during Game 1 of Tuesday's twin bill. He also pitched a scoreless frame during his other appearance while up with the Padres.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Reinstated, optioned to Double-A
Rotowire
Baez (elbow) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Double-A San Antonio on Monday.
Baez's rehab assignment shifted to San Antonio in mid-May, and he posted a 4.05 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 6.2 innings over five relief appearances. Although the right-hander is now considered healthy, he'll remain with the Double-A club.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Moves rehab to Double-A
Rotowire
Baez (elbow) moved his rehab assignment to Double-A San Antonio on Wednesday and struck out five over two scoreless innings. He allowed no hits and walked one in his 36-pitch appearance.
Baez, who is on the mend from April 2021 Tommy John surgery, was moved up to San Antonio after he turned in a 1.17 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB in 7.2 innings over four appearances at Single-A Lake Elsinore. Before going under the knife last year, the 26-year-old was being developed as a multi-inning reliever, so he could be tasked with recording more than three outs in his subsequent rehab appearances. Whether Baez joins the Padres or is optioned to a minor-league affiliate once he's officially activated from the 60-day injured list will likely hinge on his performance over the duration of his rehab assignment.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Goes back on 60-day IL
Rotowire
Baez (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Friday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Baez didn't play at all last season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, and he'll open the 2022 campaign back on the IL as he continues his rehab. The reliever's move to the injured list makes room for the recently acquired Luke Voit on the 40-man roster. Baez isn't expected to be ready to pitch until July at the earliest.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Shifts to IL
Rotowire
The Padres placed Baez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Baez will be sidelined for the entire 2021 season and likely a portion of the 2022 campaign after he was diagnosed earlier this week with a torn UCL that will require Tommy John surgery. His move to the 60-day IL will afford the Padres some additional flexibility with their 40-man roster.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Headed for Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Baez has been diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament and will require Tommy John surgery, freelance writer Francys Romero reports.
Baez had recently been sidelined with arm fatigue and made only three appearances this spring, allowing four runs (three earned) and posting a 5:4 K:BB over 3.1 innings. He'll miss the entirety of the 2021 campaign and is likely to be out for part of 2022 as well.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Returns to mound Thursday
Rotowire
Baez pitched one-third of an inning against Oakland in a Cactus League contest Thursday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out one. It was his first spring appearance since March 2.
According to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune, Baez has been sidelined while refining his mechanics and dealing with arm fatigue. The right-hander was tagged for a solo home run in his brief appearance Thursday and has made only two appearance this spring. He is likely to open the campaign in the minors.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Viewed as long reliever
Rotowire
Baez will be stretched out in spring with the aim of developing as a multi-inning reliever, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Baez has experience starting in the minors, but his two-pitch arsenal and a crowded Padres rotation make a multi-inning relief role the most logical path to big-league innings. The 25-year-old has logged 34.1 frames in the majors over the past two seasons, but he appears to have a tough route to cracking the Opening Day roster given San Diego's bullpen depth.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Sent to alternate training site
Rotowire
Baez was optioned to the alternate training site by the Padres on Sunday.
The 24-year-old gave up one run on four hits over 2.1 innings while serving as the opener Saturday against the Rockies, but he'll return to the alternate site to make room on the active roster for trade-acquisition Trevor Rosenthal. Baez has allowed four runs on seven hits with a 7:2 K:BB through 4.2 innings this season.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Lasts 2.1 innings as opener
Rotowire
Baez didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's contest between the Rockies and the Padres. He gave up one run on four hits while fanning three across 2.1 innings.
Baez only lasted 2.1 innings as the opening pitcher here, but that was expected considering he had only logged two relief appearances in 2020 prior to making his emergency start. He is expected to remain as a bullpen arm going forward.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Joins big club
Rotowire
Baez was recalled from San Diego's alternate camp Wednesday.
Baez made 24 appearances for the Padres in 2019 and posted a 3.03 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB across 29.2 innings in the process. Edward Olivares was sent to the team's satellite camp in a corresponding move.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Impresses in spring action
Rotowire
Baez pitched six innings in Cactus League play, allowing one run on three hits while compiling a 5:2 K:BB.
Though Baez did not start any spring contests, his six innings were spread over three appearances, lending credence to the assumption that the Padres view the 24-year-old as an eventual big-league starter. Baez was used primarily as a reliever last season, but he's expected to be part of the starting rotation for Triple-A El Paso when the 2020 campaign gets underway.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Opening season finale
Rotowire
Baez is opening Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
A former top pitching prospect, Baez was moved to the bullpen this year in a logical move, given his shaky command and lack of a quality third pitch. He has a 3.25 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 24:13 K:BB in 27.2 innings across 23 appearances. Ronald Bolanos could come in as the primary pitcher.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Officially recalled
Rotowire
Baez was officially called up to San Diego from Double-A Amarillo on Sunday.
Baez will work out of the team's bullpen but could be used for multiple innings. With Double-A Amarillo, he was used exclusively in relief but logged more than three outs in 12 of his 15 appearances. Overall, he's recorded a 2.00 ERA with 38 strikeouts across 27 innings this season.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Promotion imminent
Rotowire
Baez joined the Padres in Chicago on Saturday as a member of the taxi squad and could be formally called up from Double-A Amarillo at some point in the coming days, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
A trio of esteemed prospects in Baez, pitcher Adrian Morejon and infielder Luis Urias all joined the Padres for their road trip, but only Urias has been activated ahead of Saturday's game against the Cubs. Morejon and Baez should both officially join the roster soon, with the decision to activate either pitcher likely hinging on the usage of the team's other relief arms over the next few days. The Padres have used the 6-foot-8 right-hander exclusively in relief this season, with Baez turning in a 2.00 ERA while racking up 38 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .216 average across 27 innings. He could be a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen over the final two months as San Diego looks to chase down a wild-card spot.
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Padres' Michel Baez: Activated from IL
Rotowire
Baez (shoulder) has been activated from the injured list and will join Double-A Amarillo, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The 6-foot-8 righty hasn't pitched this season as he's been dealing with right shoulder inflammation, but he was activated Tuesday with Andres Munoz getting called up to Triple-A El Paso. Baez was impressive for High-A Lake Elsinore last season, posting a 2.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 92 strikeouts over 86.2 innings, but he struggled in his brief time in Double-A last year, giving up 15 runs in 18.1 innings.
