Chicago Cubs: Javier Baez is and should always be the starting shortstop

I’ve wondered how the Chicago Cubs would handle this when it came time. To start the year, Javier Baez in the starting shortstop. When Addison Russell returns, does he get bumped back to second base?

This was a thought I had since the Chicago Cubs started Spring Training. Then I happened to read an article by Rick Morrisey over at the Chicago Sun-Times that really got me thinking about this. Just based on who Javier Baez is as a player and who Addison Russell is–Baez needs to be the everyday shortstop. During the suspension AND after. And my reasons don’t stretch into a more in-depth opinion of Russell. He’s doing what’s asked of him. If he doesn’t? The team will deal with that.

Baez had been a shortstop for his entire minor league career. It wasn’t until he got to Chicago that he started to see time at other positions. In 2015, Starlin Castro was the team’s shortstop. Russell made his way to Chicago. It seemed the change was coming, and it did. Russell was moved to shortstop, Castro slid over to second base. Baez filled in around those two for the year. But after 2015, Castro was on the move and second base was open for Baez to take.

But in 2016, the Cubs brought in one of Joe Maddon‘s favorites, Ben Zobrist. This left Baez without a ‘steady’ position, even though wherever he lines up, he one of the best on the field in that game. The idea was to make Zobrist the ‘everyday’ second baseman. Baez would be a floater, Russell the everyday shortstop. But Zobrist was used everywhere that season, as was Baez.

2016 saw Zobrist play over half of his games from second base (81 of 147), and Baez continued to move around the diamond. Even Kris Bryant got into the ‘super utility’ mix, playing outfield often. But while Russell was a solid glove with a decent arm, it was starting to feel like that Castro/Russell situation all over again.

Last season, after Russell was suspended, Baez took over at shortstop. He was already taking over the league by storm, and it continued at short with lightning fast tags. Baez is THE best shortstop on the team, even once Russell returns. I’ve always been a proponent of not losing your spot due to injury. Well, this wasn’t an injury. It was a  situation created by Russell, and his spot should be lost to Baez.

With Russell moving to second, the Chicago Cubs are even better on the infield with their defense. Zobrist seems to be an ageless wonder. But he does well moving around, plays most positions well, and that should be his role unless his health tells us otherwise. And he’s made a pretty good career out of doing it, mostly for Maddon. If anyone knows how to use him–and rest him–it’s Maddon.

Baez needs to be penciled in all year with the “6” next to his name before and after Russell’s suspension comes to an end. He’s a star on the rise, and you don’t push stars to the side for ‘potential.’ This is Javy’s spot, now. It’s the simple truth of where this story needs to finish.