Bleacher Report has completely outdated perspective of Javy Baez's contract with Tigers

Over the past few years, it's been easy to look at the six-year contract the Detroit Tigers handed out to Javier Baez, worth $140 million, and say it is one of the worst contracts in baseball. Before the 2025 season, there was very little argument against that reality. But after a season where Baez embraced versatility and a new role in the outfield, he suddenly has renewed value on the Tigers' roster.

Don't get us wrong, it's still a bad contract, and Baez is being overpaid — but it's not as egregious as it once was. That is why Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly pointing to the $48 million Baez is owed over the next two years as the worst contract for the Tigers this season feels like an outdated take.

It needs to be stressed that there were two versions of Javier Baez last season. There was the first-half Baez, who earned a selection to the American League All-Star team while slashing .275/.310/.442 with 10 home runs and a wRC+ of 108. A little bit late, but Baez was finally living up to the contract with that level of production.

The problem is that Baez regressed to the version that Tigers fans were used to during the second half, slashing .223/.230/.318 with only 2 home runs and a wRC+ of 2 home runs. The biggest issue was strikeouts, with Baez's strikeout rate jumping to over 30% during the final months of the regular season.

Javier Baez's Tigers contract is bad, but it's no longer the headache that it once was

At this point, the Tigers aren't going to recoup the money that has already been paid to Baez. No, Baez will never be the player that was at the center of the MVP conversation in 2018, but it's not like the Tigers have a Kris Bryant situation on their hands.

It would be a different story if Baez hadn't embraced the role change last February. It was clear that the Tigers were approaching the point where they may have had to eat the money to get rid of the problem.

But what Baez proved last year is that his ability to play multiple positions has given the Tigers roster flexibility — an important distinction as Detroit looks for ways to get Kevin McConigle on the Opening Day roster.

Yes, the contract is bad. But Baez isn't the complete eyesore that he once was.