JAVIER BÁEZ NEWS

Moves to Mets Baez was traded from the Cubs to the Mets in exchange for an undisclosed return Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Mets add one of the biggest remaining rental bats with the move. Baez will presumably handle shortstop until Francisco Lindor returns from his oblique strain before one of the two (likely Baez) slides to second base. Baez certainly has his flaws as seen in his 36.3 percent strikeout rate -- the worst mark among qualified hitters by over four percentage points -- but he remains a very effective player despite his weaknesses. He's homered 22 times and stolen 13 bases to go along with a respectable .248 batting average this season.

JULY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chicago Cubs to visit the Washington Nationals

The Cubs will start Trevor Williams on Friday while the Nationals have yet to decide who will take the mound

JULY 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Returns to lineup Baez (heel) is starting Thursday's game against the Reds.

Impact Baez was held out of the lineup in each of the last three games due to a bruised left heel, but he'll play shortstop and bat fourth Thursday. Since the All-Star break, the 28-year-old has hit .293 with a home run, two doubles, nine RBI, six runs and three stolen bases.

JULY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mills expected to start as Cubs host the Reds

The Reds will start Luis Castillo on Thursday while the Cubs are expected to counter with Alec Mills

JULY 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Remains out of lineup Baez (heel) isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Reds.

Impact Baez was a late scratch from Tuesday's lineup, and he didn't appear off the bench as he continues to deal with a bruised left heel. Nico Hoerner will start at shortstop while Matt Duffy starts at second base.

JULY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Who will stay, who will go? Predicting trade fate of stars such as Kimbrel, Scherzer, Story

With the MLB trade deadline approaching Friday, Pedro Moura predicts which stars will be on the move and who's staying put.

JULY 28, 2021

Davies scheduled to start as Chicago hosts Cincinnati

The Reds will start Tyler Mahle on Wednesday while the Cubs are expected to counter with Zach Davies

JULY 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scratched from Tuesday's lineup Baez (heel) was removed from Tuesday's lineup against the Reds, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact The 28-year-old was initially deemed good-to-go for Tuesday's contest after not starting Monday, but apparently he requires at least another day out of the lineup while his left heel recovers. Baez should be considered day-to-day for now, and the Cubs figure to provide an update on his condition no later than Wednesday afternoon. Nico Hoerner enters the lineup to play shortstop.

JULY 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Back in lineup Tuesday Baez (heel) is batting cleanup and playing shortstop Tuesday against the Reds.

Impact A bruised heel shortened Baez's Sunday and kept him out of Monday's lineup, but he entered the series opener to hit a walk-off single in his only plate appearance. He's started 10 games since the All-Star break and has hit .275 with one home run, eight RBI and three stolen bases.

JULY 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Alzolay scheduled to start for Chicago against Cincinnati

The Reds will start Vladimir Gutierrez on Tuesday while the Cubs are expected to counter with Adbert Alzolay

JULY 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Out of Monday's lineup Baez (heel) is out of the lineup Monday against the Reds.

Impact Baez was removed from Sunday's win over the Diamondbacks due to the injury and will be out of the lineup for at least one contest. Manager David Ross initially labeled it a lower body injury, but it's apparently a bruised heel that cropped up when he stepped awkwardly on a base, per Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago. Nico Hoerner will shift to shortstop Monday while David Bote starts at the keystone.

JULY 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Miley expected to start for the Reds against Cubs

The Reds will start Wade Miley on Monday while the Cubs are expected to counter with Kyle Hendricks

JULY 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Managing lower-body injury Baez suffered a lower-body injury during Sunday's win over the Diamondbacks, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Baez went to the ground in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday while trying to beat out a grounder, but he walked off the field under his own power and remained in the game for the top of the ninth. Manager David Ross didn't offer clarification regarding the shortstop's status after the game, and whether the issue impacts his availability for Monday's game against the Reds remains to be seen. The 28-year-old went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Sunday.

JULY 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Homers against Diamondbacks Baez went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, a double and two runs in Friday's 8-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

Impact Baez has now recorded hits in nine of his last 10 appearances, and he blasted his first homer since July 6 during Friday's win. The 28-year-old has slashed .345/.381/.603 with four home runs, 15 RBI, 10 runs and four stolen bases across his last 15 games, and he could be involved in trade talks ahead of the July 30 deadline.

JULY 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Davies scheduled to start as Chicago hosts Arizona

The Diamondbacks will start Zac Gallen on Friday and the Cubs are expected to counter with Zach Davies

JULY 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kim expected to start for the Cardinals against the Cubs

The Cubs will start Adbert Alzolay on Thursday and the Cardinals are expected to counter with Kwang Hyun Kim

JULY 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hendricks, Cubs to face Wainwright, Cardinals

The Cubs will start Kyle Hendricks on Wednesday and the Cardinals are expected to counter with Adam Wainwright

JULY 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Contributes across box score in win Baez went 2-for-5 with two RBI, one run scored and one stolen base Tuesday against the Cardinals.

Impact Baez had a quiet start to the contest, but he began his production in the sixth inning when he hit a leadoff single before stealing second base. He also contributed to the Cubs' six-run rally in the ninth inning, providing a two-RBI single to bring the team within one. He later came around to score to provide the game-winning run. For the season, Baez is hitting .244/.287/.486 with 21 home runs, 45 runs scored, 61 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

JULY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chicago Cubs to visit the St. Louis Cardinals

The Cubs will start Trevor Williams on Tuesday while the Cardinals have yet to decide who will get the start

JULY 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mills scheduled to start for Cubs at Cardinals

The Cubs will start Alec Mills on Monday while the Cardinals are expected to counter with Jake Woodford

JULY 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kelly expected to start for the Diamondbacks against the Cubs

The Diamondbacks are expected to send Merrill Kelly to the mound Sunday and the Cubs plan to give Zach Davies the start

JULY 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Records 12th steal Baez went 1-for-5 with an RBI double and a stolen base in Saturday's 4-2 win over Arizona.

Impact The shortstop helped the Cubs get on the board with an RBI double to plate Willson Contreras in the sixth inning. In the eighth, Baez struck out but reached on a wild pitch before stealing second. The 28-year-old has stolen a base in each of the last two games, and he's now 12-for-14 in steal attempts this year. He's added a .241/.286/.492 slash line with 21 home runs, 57 RBI and 43 runs scored through 322 plate appearances, although he still carries a troubling 37.0 percent strikeout rate, his highest since 2014.

JULY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gallen scheduled to start as Arizona hosts Chicago

The Diamondbacks will send Zac Gallen to the mound Saturday and the Cubs will give Adbert Alzolay the start

JULY 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two hits, stolen base Baez went 2-for-4 with a run, strikeout and stolen base in a 5-1 victory against the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Impact Baez singled, stole second and scored in the second to get Chicago on the board and later singled in the eighth to record two hits in consecutive games for the third time this month. The shortstop is now slashing a scorching .393/.394/.750 in nine July games, and it was nice to see the shortstop swipe a base for the first time since June 5.

JULY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Hendricks wins 10th straight, Cubs beat Diamondbacks 5-1

Kyle Hendricks outpitched Madison Bumgarner in six effective innings for his 10th straight win and the Chicago Cubs opened the second half of the season with a 5-1 victory over Ari...

JULY 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS