The Detroit Tigers came into the offseason looking to be aggressive and they have been able to accomplish that goal. On Tuesday morning, news broke that the Tigers had agreed to a big six-year contract with star shortstop Javier Baez. It's a move that gives the Tigers an elite two-way threat in the infield and will help them build back to being contenders.
Baez is mostly known for his flashy style of play and wild approach at the plate. That wild approach has hurt him at times, but has also made him one of the most dangerous and entertaining batters in Major League Baseball. No matter the negatives that can be brought up about Baez, this is a huge step in the right direction for the Tigers.
Last season split between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, Baez put together big numbers. He ended the year with 31 home runs to go along with 87 RBI's. With the Cubs in 91 games, Baez ended up with a .248 batting average. He improved that with the Mets in 47 games, batting .299.
At 28 years of age, although he turns 29 years old tomorrow, Baez fits in to the long-term picture for the Tigers. He will come in and help immediately, but should be a quality addition for the entire six-year deal if he stays the whole time. Baez will have a potential opt out after two years should he choose to use it.
All of that being said, let's dive in and take a look at three early bold predictions for Baez with the Tigers this coming season.
Javier Baez Predictions
3. Javier Baez Ends Up Batting Over .270
Coming into the 2022 season, the highest career batting average that Baez has had in a single season is .290 back in 2018 with the Cubs. Even though he is known for being wild at the plate, he has shown that he can be a very consistent player. That will be the case with the Tigers in his first season with the franchise.
Baez will end up batting over .270 in 2022 with Detroit. He has shown signs of improvement in recent years, although he is a streaky hitter. With the Tigers, that streakiness will dissipate a bit.
No one should be expecting Baez to end up being a .300 hitter at any point in his career. His approach and pure power swing will make sure that doesn't happen. However, he is capable of being a more consistent hitter and he will start showing some of that potential this season.
2. Javier Baez Will Hit At Least 40 Home Runs
Next up, the Tigers are expecting to receive a lot of pop at the plate from their new superstar. Baez has been a massive power threat throughout his entire career and that will not be changing with his new team. Detroit needed more dynamic offense and that is what they'll get from their big money shortstop.
We are predicting that Javier Baez will end up hitting at least 40 home runs in his first season with the Tigers. That would be a career high for a single season, with 34 home runs being his current season high back in 2018 with the Cubs. Detroit will be very happy with the offensive production that Baez will bring to the field day in and day out.
This is the kind of move that can take a team from being good to being a legitimate contender. Yes, Baez will have some struggles throughout the season, but so does any player. His overall production will make the money the Tigers paid more than worth it.
1. El Mago's Production Will Help Lead The Tigers Back To The Postseason
Finally, and most importantly, the Tigers are banking on this move help them compete as a team. Baez is always going to put up quality individual numbers, but those numbers in an empty season don't mean much. Just look at how well he played with the Mets after being traded there by the Cubs and how poorly the team played.
Baez is all about winning. That is something that has been clear from the first time he stepped on the field with the Cubs back in 2014. With the big season individually that we are predicting, Baez's personal success will help the Tigers find team success.
Not only will the Tigers improve with this move, Javier Baez will also help lead them back to the postseason. It has been awhile since Detroit was considered to be a contender, but that will be the case this season. An aggressive offseason was needed and that aggressive offseason will put the Tigers back in play in the American League.
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