Report: Tigers, Baez agree to 6-year, $140M deal

The Detroit Tigers and free-agent infielder Javier Baez agreed to a multi-year contract, a source told Jason Beck of MLB.com.

It's expected to be a six-year agreement worth $140 million, reports MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Baez's contract will include an opt-out clause after two years and a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block deals to 10 clubs each year, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The 2018 NL MVP runner-up was one of several marquee names on the market at shortstop, a position many expected would be a focus for the Tigers this offseason. Detroit was first reported to have been in contract talks with the 28-year-old's representatives Friday.

After seven-plus seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Baez was dealt to the New York Mets prior to this year's trade deadline. He posted a .265/.315/.494 line in 138 games between the two teams, adding 31 home runs, 87 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases.

The Mets offered Baez a $125-million pact early in the offseason but were priced out of the running for the infielder after signing Starling Marte to a multi-year deal, sources told Andy Martino of SNY.

Meanwhile, Baez's power bat and defensive upside at a premium position would represent a major addition for a rebuilding Tigers team looking to take the next step.

Detroit opened its offseason spending by making a splash in the rotation, signing left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez away from the Boston Red Sox on a five-year deal reportedly worth $77 million.