Tigers’ Javier Báez Surprises No One By Opting In for $98 Million Left on Contract

Javier Báez will make $98 million over the next four seasons.

Tigers shortstop Javier Báez unsurprisingly decided to opt in for the final four years of his contract on Monday, during which he’ll make a staggering $98 million, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. 

Báez, who signed a six-year, $140 million contract with Detroit ahead of the ’22 season, did not exercise the opt-out clause in the deal, which was active after the ’23 campaign. 

As such, Báez is due to make $25 million in each of the next two years and $24 million in each of the two subsequent seasons. He’s officially under contract through the ’27 campaign, his age-34 season. 

In ’23, Báez struggled offensively. He owned the league’s lowest on-base percentage (.267) and his .592 OPS was the second-lowest in MLB among qualified batters, ahead of only Tim Anderson, who had his club option declined by the White Sox last week.

Báez featured in 136 games last year, recording nine home runs and 59 RBI along with 125 strikeouts and just 24 walks. In two seasons with the Tigers, Báez has a .633 OPS across 280 games. 

The 30-year-old is the highest-paid player on Detroit’s roster following the departure of Miguel Cabrera, who retired after the ’23 season, and he’ll be locked in for four more years at an average rate of $24.5 million per annum.