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Javy Báez's willingness to help Tigers amid injuries could be changing fan opinion

ByEmma Lingan|
Apr 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Javier Baez (28) fields and throws out Kansas City Royals first baseman Salvador Perez (13) in the first inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Apr 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Javier Baez (28) fields and throws out Kansas City Royals first baseman Salvador Perez (13) in the first inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Remember when Javy Báez said during spring training that it was his "dream" to play center field? We all laughed about it at the time – but guess who's laughing now?

That's right – with injuries to Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez, Manuel Margot and now, Kerry Carpenter, Báez is going to be the Tigers' regular center fielder for the time being. Needless to say, he's pumped.

“He's very excited,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said of Báez (via Jeff Seidel of the Detroit Free Press). “I called him last night, so I didn't just send the lineup out, which is one approach. I could just send it out and wait to hear the reaction. I wanted to hear it for myself so he's willing to do anything, which is great and certainly makes it easier on me and on us.”

Javy Báez's willingness to help Tigers amid injuries could be changing fan opinion

Say what you will about Báez and how much he has cost the Tigers with his nightmare of a contract – most of it is probably warranted – but you have to admire his willingness to be flexible in order to help his team.

Báez, who had never played a single inning at center field in his 11-year MLB career, has now played 26 innings at the position for the Tigers this season. That includes his first-ever start in center field Monday against the San Diego Padres. He started there again Tuesday night.

To be clear, none of this negates anything that happened during Báez's first three seasons in Detroit. He is still the highest-paid player on the Tigers' roster, and he still hit just .221/.263/.347 over three years with the club – including a .184/.221/.294 slash line in 2024, when injuries limited him to just 80 games. He's still owed $25 million this season and $24 million in each of the next two.

Perhaps there is nothing Báez can do at this point that will justify the size of his contract or make Tigers fans forget about his first three years with the organization. But his team-first attitude could go a long way toward softening fans' opinions of him.

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