The Detroit Tigers are close to signing Javier Báez

Breaking news as the Detroit Tigers are close to signing shortstop Javier Báez.

Around 2 am this morning, Jon Morosi of MLB Network dropped a tweet that has been quite a cliffhanger for Detroit Tigers fans.

The deal, according to Jon Morosi, is for six years but no other terms have been announced. The Mets, who wanted Baez to return, maybe given an opportunity to match the deal but that seems unconfirmed.

The CBA deadline looms ahead

With the lockout looming ahead, the Detroit Tigers seem determined to get their franchise shortstop. The free-agent marketplace was reduced to a few names left after Marcus Seimen and Corey Seager were signed by the Texas Rangers yesterday. Combine that with the signing of right-hander Jon Gray and centerfielder Kole Calhoun, Texas has dropped $561.2 million dollars in free agents, alone, setting a new team record.

Seager’s deal was the one that potentially drove up the price for Carlos Correra. He signed for 10 years at $325 million dollars.

Detroit Tigers fans seem rather torn about the potential signing

Back in early November, we did a poll of who you would like the Detroit Tigers to sign at short. It was pretty clear who won the vote.

But as our other co-expert Chris Brown points out this morning, there is a lot to like about his skills and what they could provide for the Tigers infield. Baez is ranked in the 85% of barrel percentage, a top performer in exit velocity, and has a hard-hit rate of 45.2%.

The Tigers have been very aggressive early on with the signings of Eduardo Rodriguez and Tucker Barnhart but as expected, this class of shortstops who are free agents was expected to command a lot more money and longer contract terms. Whatever the case is as the events unfold this morning if Baez is signed, it is an upgrade of what they currently have. Stay tuned.