Javy Baez's strides in center field should make Tigers' Kevin McGonigle decision easy

Javy Báez's All-Star 2025 season was a shock to everyone, but to no one more than Tigers fans. Baseball has long written him off as a flop, but we're the ones who have actually had to watch him flail at the plate while taking up the largest amount of space on Detroit's payroll.

Báez had his best year since his first season in Detroit. He still posted a .282 OBP and a sub-.400 slugging overall, but he was actually ... occasionally clutch?

And the Tigers finally gave up on him as their marquee shortstop, which actually worked wonders. He put up his best defensive numbers everywhere but shortstop, where he graded out as perfectly average. He displayed a natural affinity for center field, taking over while Parker Meadows spent most of his year on the IL.

Báez has been getting more reps there in spring training and is continuing to receive rave reviews. In a sim game on Tuesday, he got some "oohs" and "ahhs" when he made a running grab to rob Colt Keith of extra bases.

He's hitting .286 with a .786 OPS, a home run, and three RBI in spring training. Parker Meadows is hitting .120/.374.

The Tigers need a place to put No. 1 prospect Kevin McGonigle. Báez is doing well in center field and hitting better than Meadows. The solution is pretty clear: McGonigle at short, Báez in center, Meadows in Toledo to start the year.

Javier Báez continuing to prove himself as a center fielder gives Kevin McGonigle a clear path to Tigers' Opening Day roster

McGonigle has survived five rounds of roster cuts, leaving just over 50 players in Tigers' major league camp. It's been a little annoying to have to wait on a decision when McGonigle has already stated his case very plainly, but keeping fans waiting and hopeful doesn't seem like a PR stunt. We buy that they really don't know where they want him to end up come Opening Day.

Meadows had a brief flash of brilliance in 2024, after being demoted and then suffering a hamstring strain after being recalled again. But he spent most of his 2025 season on the IL, and when he was healthy, he wasn't productive. Spring training hasn't offered the Tigers much reason to be optimistic about a bounce back.

McGonigle isn't going to solve all of the Tigers' problems. They'd still be putting almost the exact same lineup on the field, and putting all of their hopes on a rookie — no matter how good he's looked in camp — is far from a guarantee.

But we still like their chances better with McGonigle toward the bottom of the order than Meadows. The latter still has minor league options, so the Tigers really have nothing to lose.