The Red Sox are “among many teams showing interest” in free agent second baseman/shortstop Javy Báez, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported Tuesday.
Báez batted .265 with a .319 on-base percentage, .494 slugging percentage, .813 OPS, 31 home runs, 18 doubles, two triples, 80 runs and 87 RBIs in 138 games (547 plate appearances) for the Cubs and Mets in 2021. He struck out a league-leading 184 times though.
Chicago traded him to New York on July 30 for prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, a 2020 first-round pick. Báez went on to slash .299/.371/.515/.886 with nine homers and nine doubles in 47 games (186 plate appearances) with the Mets.
He had 3 Defensive Runs Saved in 834 ⅔ innings at shortstop in 2021. He then was a positive-3 DRS in 285 ⅔ innings at second base for the Mets who moved him to second because they have Francisco Lindor at shortstop.
In his career, Báez has made 454 starts at shortstop, 231 starts at second base, 65 starts at third base and two starts at first base. He has a career .264/.307/.477/.783 line in 862 games.
The Red Sox could sign Báez to play second base, then move him to shortstop if Xander Bogaerts opts out after the 2022 season.
Báez is from Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He’s close with Red Sox manager Alex Cora of Caguas, Puerto Rico.
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