Cubs' Baez open to extension talks during season: 'I'm not in a rush'

Shortstop Javier Baez won't set a deadline for a new contract with the Chicago Cubs before entering his final season ahead of free agency.

"Yeah, yeah. For sure," Baez said when asked about his agent talking with the Cubs after Opening Day, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago. "It's always been like that. That's his job. They (handle) the numbers. We'll see. They've had really good conversation. They've got really good communication. We'll see what happens when the season starts."

He reiterated his desire to stay in Chicago despite subdued contract talks during the spring.

"I'm not in a rush to extend," the two-time All-Star said.

Baez's comments come after he said in late February he would probably set a deadline on extension talks to avoid distractions during the 2021 campaign.

The 28-year-old said he also discussed a new deal last year before the pandemic hit.

"Obviously, this year has been a lot different," he said. "But we're not in a hurry. We've been talking, but we'll probably see what's the deal this last two weeks and see what happens."

Baez owns a career .264/.304/.473 slash line with 118 home runs and 378 RBIs over seven years with the Cubs. He finished as the 2018 NL MVP runner-up after going deep 34 times with an .881 OPS.