2 Surprise Teams That Could Land Javier Baez

The 2021 MLB offseason is in full swing, and dominoes are already starting to fall.

One of the biggest storylines this winter revolves around the stacked group of free-agent shortstops.

Some superstars at that position could find themselves playing for new teams in 2022, and Javier Baez is one guy that fits that description.

After starting his career with the Chicago Cubs, the 28-year-old was traded to the New York Mets at the 2021 deadline.

He’s now a free agent, and he could join the third team of his career this offseason.

He has been heavily linked to some teams in rumors, but is there a chance that a surprise team could land the former first-round pick’s services?

Here are a couple of dark-horse clubs that might be worth keeping an eye on in the Baez sweepstakes.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

It seems like there hasn’t been a lot of buzz connecting Baez to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but L.A. certainly feels like a viable landing spot for the two-time All-Star.

Longtime Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager is a free agent this offseason.

He has manned the shortstop position for several years for L.A., but that could come to an end this winter.

One MLB insider thinks the 27-year-old might be the “least likely” Dodgers free agent to re-sign with the team.

“Seager might be the least likely of the Dodgers’ free agents to re-sign, something they tacitly acknowledged when they put his replacement in place by trading for Trea Turner,” wrote Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. “Turner will not be happy at second base for long – and he can become a free agent after 2022.”

As Plunkett implied, Turner will likely shift over to the shortstop position if Seager does indeed sign elsewhere this offseason.

That doesn’t mean the team couldn’t still strike a deal with Baez, though.

Baez has plenty of experience playing second base, and if he’d be willing to play that position with L.A., then a deal would make a lot of sense.

As for Seager, he batted .306 with an impressive .915 OPS in 2021, so if he does sign with a new team this winter, the Dodgers are going to have to find a way to deal with the lost production.