Cubs to try top propect Baez at multiple positions during spring training
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The Chicago Cubs don't have a lot of luxury on their roster but depth at short stop isn't an issue.
Starlin Castro is coming off a down year but is loaded with talent, his two All-Star appearances before his 23rd birthday exemplify that. The Cubs also have top prospect Javier Baez charging up the organization and at his current pace, could be MLB ready this season.
Baez has flown through the minor leagues in three seasons and is set to start 2014 at short stop in Triple A Iowa. If the 20-year-old continues to crush the ball, which he's shown no indication that he'll stop anytime soon, the Cubs want to expose him to different positions to prevent him from getting stuck behind Castro.
"He's still a shortstop, but we're gonna move him around during spring training and at Iowa. He'll see some time at third base and second base," Cubs GM Jed Hoyer told the Chicago Daily Herald. "You can never have too many center fielders or too many shortstops. If we have two great shortstops on our team, that's a good problem to have.
"But we will move him around, anticipating his arrival and trying to think about where we can fit him in."
In 130 games between Class A-Advanced and Double A last season, Baez batted .282/.341/.578 with 37 home runs, 111 RBI and 20 stolen bases. Baseball America recently ranked him the organizations number one prospect
The Cubs had problems with Castro's production and lack of focus at times last season but the 23-year-old is signed until 2020 and is still owed $60 million. He batted a career-low .245/.284/.347 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI, while striking out 129 times.
How the pair do this season will go a long way at dictating who will be the future short stop of the Cubs. If Castro bounces back and Baez continues to improve, the team could have a very exciting young infield. If Castro struggles the team could look to move him. Whatever happens, the Cubs appear adamant on making sure there's a place on their roster for Baez when he's ready.
"If Javy gets to the big leagues, then we'll find a place for Javy to play. That's a really good problem to have and not one we're really thinking about much right now other than making sure Javy can play other positions."