Now that the trade deadline is in the rear view mirror, the Chicago Cubs have the perfect opportunity to bring up Top 10 Prospect Javier Baez from Triple-A Iowa. Baez is waiting patiently in Iowa for his chance to show he belongs at the Friendly Confines.
Chicago traded second baseman Darwin Barney to the Los Angles Dodgers last week and then followed that up with trading infielder Emilo Bonifacio to the Atlanta Braves. Bonifacio played shortstop, second base and center field while with the Cubs.
Cubs General Manager Jed Hoyer was asked Thursday if Baez would be coming to Chicago after the trades the club made but he insisted the Cubs prospect would remain in Iowa.
Cubs Manager Rick Renteria told reporters Thursday, “You allow the process to continue to play itself out. You continue to allow Baez to do what he’s doing and where he’s at.” Baez has played in 100 games with the Iowa Cubs this season and is batting .255 with 24 doubles, 20 home runs and 76 RBI’s.
Even though Hoyer and Renteria state that Baez will stay in Iowa, could their minds change as we head down the final months of the season?
When the club brought up Arismendy Alcantara, he was only suppose to play in 3 games while Darwin Barney was on leave. He came out of the gates firing on all cylinders though collecting five hits with three RBI’s and a stolen base.
When the time came for him to get back on the road, the Cubs quickly changed their minds and kept the young prospect with the club in Chicago. Alcantara has mostly played second base but has shown he can play center field as well. I think if the organization feels Baez is ready they will make the move, as they did with Alcantara.
Bringing Baez up would give him the chance to get used to the Wrigley Field environment and get more comfortable at the major league level. That way when he makes his first full season with the Cubs organization next season, assuming no set backs, the nerves of playing at one of the games most historical ball parks will not be as bad. Baez played in the Futures Game this year at the All-Star break and hit a home run, proving it isn’t just minor league parks where he can hit them out of the park.
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