Chicago Cubs: A Javier Baez extension could be coming soon

The Chicago Cubs and Javier Baez will reportedly sit down together at the Winter Meetings to discuss a possible long-term contract extension.

I feel as if I can speak for most fans when I say I don’t want to see Javier Baez playing on any team other than the Chicago Cubs for a long time. Baez, who is set to be a free agent after the 2021 season, still has two more years left of team control. Naturally, Chicago and its fans do not want to see Baez hit the open market.

In August, MLB insider Jeff Passan reported the Cubs would be looking to extend Baez this winter. Then just a few weeks ago Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago-Sun-Times reported that talks between the club and Baez about an extension have already begun.

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Then on Tuesday,  Jon Heyman tweeted the Cubs and Baez will sit down at the Winter Meetings this year and try and work out an extension to lock up the young superstar. The Winter Meetings take place December 8-12 in San Diego.

Baez is a special player as we all know, there is still a mystery on what kind of deal he might get from the Cubs. He means so much to the Cubs from playing elite-level defense to having a bat that can change the game with one swing.

The end of the 2019 season showed just how much the Cubs need Baez to play winning baseball. After the shortstop got hurt at the beginning of September, Chicago was not the same team. Baez brings something extra to the ballclub.

Despite his late-season injury, he belted 29 home runs and smacked 38 doubles this year, working to an .847 OPS and earning his second consecutive All-Star nod. Over the last three years, he’s gone from a much-hyped talent to one of the most transformative players in all of baseball – something Chicago is all too aware of.

Baez, who turned himself into a superstar during that stretch is one of the most exciting players in all of baseball. Just a few weeks ago we learned he will be on next year’s cover of MLB The Show – an off-field honor, but an honor nonetheless.

With how the offseason has gone so far with members of the core swirling around in trade talks such as Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras it’s a nice relief to see the front office trying to keep El Mago around for years to come.