There have been some terrible contracts handed out in recent years across MLB. Whether it be deals for Stephen Strasburg or Christian Yelich, the buyer’s remorse is real in those unfortunate front offices. And you just know that the Tigers aren’t pleased with how the six-year, $140 million signing of Javier Báez has panned out.
It’s getting tough to watch at this point.
After a pair of All-Star seasons with the Cubs, Báez started showing signs of decline in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He was dealt to the Mets in 2021 and was able to leverage a solid 47 games into a massive deal with Detroit. Even at his best, Báez has had one of the worst strikeout rates in MLB but was able to make up for it with solid power numbers.
That’s no longer the case. His power is gone, and his lack of plate discipline is becoming a meme.
Seranthony Domínguez, Nasty 91mph Slider. 😨
Báez just needs a longer bat. pic.twitter.com/wHgkuPIpWC
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 6, 2023
During Monday’s game against the Phillies, Báez struck out twice to drop his average to .219 on the season. His eighth-inning strikeout against Seranthony Domínguez was particularly embarrassing with Báez swinging at a slider that never came close to the plate and would have hit a left-handed batter. This has been a recurring theme for Báez. Like, it’s bad.
Javy Baez swinging at pitches that never left the opposite batters box… pic.twitter.com/1p13YlclwB
— Evan (@EvanBoller) May 30, 2023
Báez has among the worst chase rates in baseball, and it shows. He simply cannot stop himself from swinging at sliders over the opposite batter’s box.
This was how Twitter reacted
Javy Baez if his bat was 50 inches long
— Honest Stripers Fan 🇲🇽 (@HonestBravesFan) June 6, 2023
Javier Baez might be a top 2 most undisciplined players that’s ever played the sport of baseball https://t.co/R56XBc1Vcg
— Julian (@Julian4948) June 6, 2023
I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone swing at a pitch that far outside the zone https://t.co/fD7T1Vp3f3
— The Good Phight (@TheGoodPhight) June 6, 2023
Let’s not use nasty on a pitch that would’ve hit a LHB and never had a chance of being a strike https://t.co/bDKCvxzdkC
— The Motown Mojo(26-32) (@TheMotownMojo) June 6, 2023
How in the world is Javy Baez a professional baseball player 😂😂😂 https://t.co/IboMs7SLaY
— Cameron Brown (@golfer4life97) June 6, 2023
That pitch was clear across the Delaware and well into New Jersey, and still, he swung… https://t.co/lDRfsjNKxY
— LSAClassOf2000 (@LorneEC3) June 6, 2023
I know we all love the Pitching Ninja but it's pretty absurd how many times he clips a dude fanning Baez on a pitch five feet off the plate. Really Baez is just awful https://t.co/SVruuY9blq
— Robert James (@confusion_reign) June 6, 2023
I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again
Javier Baez is the worst hitter in baseball https://t.co/nE0kgUCIYb
— Kenny (@kharry2415) June 6, 2023
Baez after his contracts up https://t.co/HyJDOwWRER pic.twitter.com/Rg5mwk141z
— Connor (The Jake Burger Stan) (@connor_devlin_) June 6, 2023
I feel like almost any PitchingNinja content with Javy Báez standing in the batters’ box is essentially nullified.
My mans will swing at ANYTHING. https://t.co/9bRYIIDRK2
— Miguel Cabrera’s Bat (Benson) (@Miggysbat) June 6, 2023
how does a professional baseball player swing at this pitch. it’s 2 feet outside before it ever even breaks https://t.co/i34BfuGEQV pic.twitter.com/xWZWiBieQD
— panthers fan (@BrosephSZN) June 6, 2023
I literally don’t think that this pitch was a strike at ANY point. Out of the zone from the hand to the glove…. Baez still swung at it like a little leaguer seeing his first slider ever. How in the world is this guy getting over 20m a year… https://t.co/VDP6KQcjL5
— Ron Williams (@rdubstres) June 6, 2023
And, of course, he struck out on his first at-bat on Tuesday.
