Chicago Cubs: Where does Javier Baez rank amongst MLB shortstops?

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Chicago Cubs: Russell has a comparable glove, but hasn’t produced

Many believe Baez to be a formidable defensive shortstop, capable of delivering highlight-reel plays on a nightly basis. However, many also believe that Addison Russell possesses just as much upside as a shortstop and his 57 DRS (Baez only has 10 DRS at shortstop, although with considerably fewer chances) over the last four years certainly bear that out as well.

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In fact, until last season, Russell seemed entrenched as the Cubs’ shortstop due to his glovework, with Baez teaming up with him to make up arguably the best double-play duo in all of baseball. Up until 2018, Russell, not Baez, had put up the best single-season numbers in terms of offense.

Back in 2016, Russell became the first Chicago Cubs shortstop not named Ernie Banks to drive in 95 runs in a season, earning himself an All-Star nod in the process In fact, prior to Russell’s injury and subsequent suspension last year, Cubs’ skipper Joe Maddon deployed Baez wherever he thought he might get more balls that night, moving him around the entire infield.

Despite being ranked as the second-best shortstop in baseball heading into this year, Baez wasn’t even the starting shortstop for the Cubs early in 2018, nor would he probably be the starter in 2019 without the suspension to his teammate.

Baez only actually played 65 games at shortstop last year, playing 39 more games and 237 more innings at second base than he did at short. It’s not as if Baez isn’t a great infielder or defensive player – he just hasn’t played his natural position with any sort of regularity at the big league level.

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