The New York Mets know that it will be hard for them to keep All-Star second baseman Javier Baez beyond this season. But that doesn’t mean they won’t try.
Baez is set to become a free agent in the offseason and will likely attract big contract offers from multiple teams around the MLB. The numbers will probably exceed what the Mets are willing to pay at this moment, but the team’s president Sandy Alderson is still leaving the door open for a reunion with the 28-year-old star in 2022.
“Is it possible? Yes. Is it realistic? Maybe,” Alderson told reporters on Wednesday when asked about the Mets’ chances to re-sign Baez. “It’s hard for me to put odds on it. Does Javy want to be here, did he enjoy his stay, what could be expected from him over the next several years. There’s a lot of things that go into any free-agent decision.”
The Mets acquired Javier Baez in July from Chicago Cubs, hoping he can help them make a deep playoff run. They ended up missing the postseason, but it wasn’t because Baez didn’t perform.
In 45 games with the Mets, Baez batted a career-high .314 while hitting nine home runs and adding 22 RBIs. He had 22 homers and 65 homers in 91 games with the Cubs earlier in the season.
Baez made the All-Star team twice in his career and was the recipient of the Golden Glove Award in 2020 and the Silver Slugger Award in 2018. He also has a World Series win with Chicago from 2016.
