Source: Tigers, Baez close to $140 million deal

The Detroit Tigers are closing in on a 7-year, $140 million deal with an opt-out clause with free-agent shortstop Javier Baez, a source told ESPN’s Buster Olney.

The deal also includes an opt-out, the source told Olney.

While he struck out a league-high 184 times last season, Baez finished hitting .265 with 31 homers, 87 RBIs and 18 steals. He would also bring gold glove defense to Detroit with his signature no-look tags.

The Cubs selected Baez in the first round of the 2011 draft. The two-time National League All-Star had been close to signing a long-term extension with Chicago before the 2020 season, but the COVID-19 pandemic put negotiations on hold.

Those contract talks never resumed, and the Cubs traded Baez to the Mets this past July.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers contributed to this report.

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