Tigers Make Javier Baez Decision After Leaving Rangers Game

Tigers Make Javier Baez Decision After Leaving Rangers Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Shortstop Javier Baez is playing in his fourth season with the Detroit Tigers after signing a six-year, $140 million contract with the organization in December 2021.

The 32-year-old veteran debuted for the Cubs in 2014 and established himself as one of the most talented players in MLB during his Chicago tenure, collecting two All-Star selections, a second-place MVP finish and a World Series championship in 2016.

Baez’s production plunged after he landed in Detroit, quickly making his deal look like one of baseball’s worst. Last season he hit just .184 over 80 games (274 at-bats) with a .516 OPS and six home runs.

In 2025, however, he’s rediscovered his form as a key contributor on MLB’s best team, even earning a start in last week’s All-Star Game for the American League—his third appearance and first since 2019.

During Sunday Night Baseball against the Texas Rangers, Baez exited in the sixth inning with left shoulder soreness.

Ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Tigers decided to sit him out, turning to Trey Sweeney at shortstop.

on to Pittsburgh ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/7Y1Q57r0p6

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 21, 2025

“I was just trying to figure it out,” Baez said after Sunday’s game via Evan Petzold. “I didn't want to keep playing with soreness. It is sore a little bit, but we've been doing treatment today, and we'll do treatment tomorrow, and we'll see how it feels.”

He originally injured the shoulder on June 14 while trying to score from first on a ball to right-center, an aggressive send that ended with him thrown out at the plate on a relay from Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

Over 81 games this year, he’s batting .274 with a .746 OPS, ten home runs and 39 RBIs.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.