Last-minute spring position change shows how far this former Cubs star has fallen

With the Detroit Tigers on the upswing, the team's patience with Javier Baez may be wearing thin. During their rebuild, they could afford to see if the two-time All-Star could work his way through his struggles at the plate - but that approach may be changing with high expectations heading into 2025.

How desperate are they to get at least some value out of Baez? On Saturday in their final home spring training game, manager AJ Hinch penciled him in as the team's starting center fielder - despite his never having played that position in his 11-year MLB career.

With three years and $73 million left on his ill-fated six-year, $140 million contract, Baez continues to search for answers. Since joining the Tigers, he's been worth just 2.1 fWAR and with each passing year, things have gotten worse and worse. After a 2.4 fWAR 2022 campaign in which he posted a below-average 91 OPS+, he turned in a 0.8 fwAR/63 OPS+ in 2023. Last season, he really cratered out, battling injuries and appearing in only 80 games and finishing the year with -1.1 fWAR/46 OPS+.

So, things can't get much worse for this relationship - but if Baez continues to be dead weight, it won't shock anyone to see the Tigers eat what's left on his deal and cut ties before the 2027 season. Even so, I just can't get past this putting your $25 million veteran at a position he hasn't played before.

Baez hasn't played any outfield position since 2020 when he played one out in left for David Ross' Chicago Cubs. He appeared in one game in left in 2017 and one in left and one in right during the team's 2016 campaign under manager Joe Maddon. In his prime, his athleticism allowed him to do pretty much anything anywhere on the field - but he's not that player any longer. Not even close.

Obviously, it's a move trying to generate a little more roster flexibility and attempt to salvage this disastrous contract - but it reeks of desperation on the part of the Tigers. Baez isn't an outfielder - and thinking he is, even for a spring training game, is preposterous.