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Chicago Cubs: Three reasons Javier Baez will re-sign with the Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are playing a little COVID-19 cat and mouse with their magical shortstop Javier Baez. Why are the Cubs so confident Baez will stay in Chicago?
The Chicago Cubs’ Javier Baez has a plan to bring himself to the next level, that Jordan-type level, but in the world of professional baseball. You don’t grow up on the streets of Puerto Rico as a little rascal only to become a hero to millions of Latino fans across the world without a drive and a plan. Here are three reasons Baez will re-sign with the Chicago Cubs when the offer is made.
Home is where the heart is
Baez is not only a student of baseball but a student of sports history. He knows that every genuinely great idol is tied to a team. Baez understands that his image, history and magic are all tied to the Chicago Cubs.
He grew up in this organization and, in a sense, feels like he helped build it to where it is today, especially as part of the World Series Championship team. Don’t get me wrong, Baez wants to win many, many more championships for the Cubs, but he ‘really’ feels like this is his home. He helped build it, and now he is ready to show the Cubs front office and owners everything he has learned.
How do I know? If you were just about ready to showcase yourself to your family in what could be the biggest year of your career, wouldn’t you be utterly terrified right now about the season starting up? I mean, what luck? You’re about to sign the deal of your life and the plague of the century shuts down America and baseball. The biggest fear for ballplayers is the same, however, even when there is no pandemic:
What if I suck?
ESPN Writer Marly Rivera may have caught a glimpse of that fear in Baez recently as talks have heated up about baseball’s return.
“But this whole situation is making me feel a bit desperate. I’m frustrated because I don’t know what date I’m preparing for. It’s hard to stay ready that way.”
Baez cares so much about his performance because Chicago is the home that gave Baez life as an MLB player. That means something to him and his legacy. The first reason Baez will re-sign with the Cubs is that they are his family and it’s all he has ever known.
Baez is not a dummy. He also understands his star power and the star power of being part of the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago Cubs: Baez wants to use his star power for good
The next reason may sound a bit egotistical, but Baez knows he’s a superstar. He can’t go anywhere without people going crazy for him and taking his picture and asking for an autograph. Hot Latina mamas are usually jumping over each other to get a selfie and rip his clothes off in hordes of Cubs fan hysteria.
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Why do you think Baez owns a ranch on the top of a mountain in Puerto Rico? Besides getting away from the fans and having a place with a view to work out, Baez said he likes to be alone so he can think and write and try and figure out what adjustments he needs to make in his life.
Baez understands his star power.
Baez knows that his star power and the Chicago Cubs historic star power could make him a modern-day baseball Air Jordan, Sweetness -type icon in Chicago. His nickname “El Mago” is already legendary around Wrigley Field. Just like Air Jordan – who in the world doesn’t know “El Mago”? Well, if there’s any that don’t – they will.
Baez’s closest friends are players on other teams that don’t even have a fan base deep enough asking for their autograph or showing up for their games. Being a Chicago Cubs is as good or better than being a Yankee or Red Sock for historical sake.
Baez has been going to the Cubs convention year after year and sees how being a Cub can help provide him a life past baseball. While he acknowledges some former stars have had to play elsewhere and that he may as well, he hopes to be a Cub for life. Jared Wyllys a contributor to Forbes recently confirmed that notion when Baez said:
“Hopefully it happens, and if not, obviously I’m happy with everything that happened here.” “If it happens, I will be grateful to be a Cub for my entire career,” Baez said.
In early May, Baez and Minnesota Twins pitcher Jose Berrios used that star power to feed hungry kids in Puerto Rico. Baez can see his future where he gives back to his community and maybe helps develop the youth of Puerto Rico. Who knows? Maybe Baez will become the primary Puerto Rico agent to the young kids of his hometown interested in MLB contracts and a future in baseball. Why not? No one knows the kids, the town, or baseball better than Baez.
The second reason Baez will re-sign is that his legacy and fame are tied to Chicago, and Baez knows that if he can stay a Cubs player for his career, it will mean more to his star power in Chicago and around the world and that means helping more people and himself.
The last reason Baez will re-sign with the Cubs has nothing to do with Baez at all but with the Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and Chicago Cubs General Manager Jed Hoyer and getting the deal done.
Chicago Cubs: There’s still time
Don’t believe the hype Cubs fans!
“Oh, we were having great talks, but there was nothing serious discussed…” Blah, blah, blah! Don’t believe it for a second.
To their credit, Epstein and Hoyer are getting smarter along the way. They have made some awful deals in the past, but for the most part, I think they have learned at least these two things:
1. Don’t make a deal today if you can make it tomorrow.
2. Don’t lose a deal today; you should have done yesterday.
See, the front office knows they have time. Time to get more data, time to be sure, time to ensure there are no injuries, time to see what the market says, time to evaluate their holdings. A time to consider a package deal with other teammates, discuss marketing, time to discuss legacy, time to see what happens after pandemics, time to see what Javy wants, time to see what Javy needs, time to learn what will make Javy happy and then make a deal.
Oh yes, Cubs fans, I would expect that Baez will have to take the field for several weeks of great play before Biff and the Yacht Club will make him an offer. However, knowing that Epstein and Hoyer have learned rule number two (Don’t lose a deal today you should have done yesterday), I would expect that the offer will be good enough to keep Baez around for several years.
Baez should be looking at a seven-year deal between $18 and $21 million per year. So somewhere between $126 million and $147 million based on deals like Jose Altuve’s seven-year, $151 million extension.
The third reason Baez will re-sign is that Epstein and Hoyer are looking to make some targeted deals over the next year to ensure they can keep the equity they’ve built.
If I were Epstein and Hoyer, I’d go out of the box and bring in Baez with Chicago Cubs second baseman Kris Bryant, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, and catcher Willson Contreras and see if the group would be willing to negotiate to stay together and play.
. dark. Next
All of the players have the same feelings about staying a Cub for their entire career, and of course, they would all have different deals, but they would also know that part of their deal is to keep their core players together for several years.
Can you imagine how good a Rizzo, Bryant, Baez and Contreras team would be over the next seven years?
Unstoppable.