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Javier Báez, Trey Sweeney shortstop platoon for Detroit Tigers 'makes sense on whiteboard'
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- Javier Báez, Trey Sweeney shortstop platoon for Detroit Tigers 'makes sense on whiteboard'
The Detroit Tigers have a plan at the shortstop position.
The plan involves Javier Báez .
If all goes as planned, Báez and Trey Sweeney will share the shortstop position in a platoon in the 2025 season. Sweeney, a left-handed hitter, would start against right-handed pitchers; Báez, a right-handed hitter, would start against left-handed pitchers.
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"It makes sense on a whiteboard," president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Nov. 5 at the general manager meetings in San Antonio. "We'll see how they perform and how they respond. First, we have to get Javy healthy for that to even be a possibility. I feel better about the shortstop position now than I did as recently as five months ago."
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Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez (28) picks up a ground ball against Houston Astros during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Báez, who turns 32 on Dec. 1, is recovering from season-ending right hip surgery , which he underwent in early September . He is expected to participate in spring training, but the Tigers aren't sure if he will be ready for Opening Day, scheduled for March 27 against the Los Angeles Dodgers .
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Before hip surgery, Báez hit .184 with six home runs, 12 walks and 69 strikeouts across 80 games in the 2024 campaign. He also spent time on the injured list with a lower back injury .
"Our hope is that he's moving a little bit better as a result of cleaning up the hip," Harris said. "When he's moving a little bit better, that tends to clean up a lot of the swing stuff."
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Báez is owed $73 million over the final three seasons of his six-year, $140 million contract . He will earn $25 million in 2025, followed by $24 million in 2026 and $24 million in 2027.
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For years, the Tigers have been trying to fix Báez.
His offense is the problem.
"If he comes back and he can rotate the way he did, certainly in Chicago (with the Cubs from 2014-21), there's a role for him on this team," Harris said, adding Báez has complained about rotating his body for two years. "We're just focused on trying to get him healthy first and then seeing what a greater ability to rotate will do to his swing. We have every expectation that he'll be able to help us."
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Sweeney, who turns 25 in late April, joined the Tigers at the July 30 trade deadline. In the Jack Flaherty trade , the Tigers acquired Sweeney (and catcher Thayron Liranzo ) from the Dodgers.
After the trade, Sweeney made his MLB debut in mid-August and served as the everyday shortstop for two months , including the postseason. He hit .218 with four home runs, seven walks and 32 strikeouts in 36 games.
His presence benefits Báez.
"I think our team is better positioned for him, too, with the addition of Trey Sweeney and a bunch of left-handed bats in our infield," Harris said, discussing Báez's short-term future. "It means there's a real role for a right-handed bat that can play anywhere in the infield."
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Detroit Tigers shortstop Trey Sweeney (27) reacts after struck out against Cleveland Guardians during the eighth inning at Game 4 of ALDS at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.
The plan for the shortstop platoon makes sense because Sweeney hits better against right-handed pitchers and Báez hits better against left-handed pitchers.
Sweeney hit .285 with an .863 OPS against righties and .212 with a .572 OPS against lefties in the minor leagues in 2024; Báez hit .209 with a .561 OPS against righties and .207 with a .579 OPS against lefties in the major leagues in 2023-24.
Both players are average defenders.
Báez needs to get healthy, but the Tigers are counting on him in the 2025 season.
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They're not buying out his contract.
"There is a relative scarcity of shortstops out there," Harris said. "A lot of teams are looking for shortstops right now. The best version of Javy can still really help us. There's still a role for him on this team."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: No, Tigers aren't releasing Javier Baez: Expect platoon at shortstop
