Tigers former All-Star isn't living up to his contract — and he knows it

Javier Báez likely knows the truth: He hasn't lived up to the contract the Detroit Tigers gave him. That awareness — paired with his body breaking down — may define how this deal ultimately ends.

When the Tigers signed Báez to a six-year, $140 million contract in 2021, they were betting on his electric play and swagger carrying a young team toward contention. Instead, three years in, the deal feels more like a weight than a spark.

Báez's numbers tell the story. His batting average has slipped each year, bottoming out at .184 in 2024 before a hip injury ended his season. His .516 OPS last year was the worst of his career. Injuries, inconsistent discipline at the plate and declining defensive metrics have raised serious questions about his long-term value.

To Báez's credit, he hasn't ducked the grind. He returned this spring after hip surgery with a focused attitude, even agreeing to take reps at third base to help the team adapt. That kind of shift — from franchise shortstop to potential utility corner infielder — feels less like a tactic and more like a concession: the player, once elite, is searching for ways to contribute in a new career phase.

It's hard to ignore that Báez seems to understand the optics. By all accounts, he's engaged, working hard and not pointing fingers. But there's no hiding when you're making nearly $24 million a year and playing like a below-replacement-level player. He's on the wrong side of 30, and the Tigers have three years and $73 million left to pay. Báez might be willing to do what's asked — but effort doesn't equal production.

That's Detroit's long-term dilemma. They're stuck paying for past potential while hoping for future flashes. And they're doing it with a player who likely knows he's not the guy they thought they were getting.

So what happens next?

The Tigers could ride it out and hope for a late-career bounce, though that's unlikely without significant changes to Báez's approach. They could try to dump the contract, but who's biting on a massive deal tied to a declining veteran? A release, or financial settlement, would be an admission of failure — but it might also be the only path forward if his production doesn't recover.

Ultimately, Báez might finish this contract more as a mentor than a star. And if he does, it'll be because he understands the situation. The performance hasn't matched the paycheck, and now it's about salvaging some value — for himself and the franchise.

No one has to say it out loud. You can see it on his face. Javier Báez knows.