Talking to the media days earlier than his workforce’s first recreation of spring coaching, Cubs shortstop Javier Báez touched on his future with the membership. The 28-year-old is getting into his remaining season earlier than free company, and mentioned his desire is to stay with the workforce.
“Clearly, I would like to keep right here…I do not need to play for one other workforce,” Báez mentioned. He added that he has had conversations about signing an extension previously and is concerned with persevering with these conversations with president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, according to Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago.
Báez turned an on a regular basis participant for the Cubs throughout their championship season in 2016. He broke out in 2018, ending second in Nationwide League MVP voting and making his first profession All-Star workforce. He was an All-Star once more in 2019, hitting .281/.316/.531 with 29 dwelling runs in 138 video games.
Báez struggled in 2020, although, posting his worst OPS (.599) and strikeout charge (31.9%) since his rookie season in 2014.
Báez additionally detailed how superstardom bought to his head following the Cubs’ World Collection title. He cited his pursuits off the sphere as distractions to placing within the work on his recreation, and believes he has regained his focus.
“I wasn’t into baseball,” Báez mentioned, per MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. “I wasn’t attempting to get higher on daily basis. I used to be enjoying with simply my expertise. These previous three years, which final 12 months was unhealthy for me, I used to be into it. I used to be into baseball and that’s why it was so irritating. However now that I’m into it once more …I’ve bought extra confidence in me. I’m letting the sport train me what I can do.”
