Column: Javier Báez is enjoying life again in Detroit — and playing a villain on Chicago’s South Side

Javier Báez took some of his Detroit Tigers teammates on a tour of Chicago during Thursday’s off day, including a boat trip on the lake.

Despite being traded during Cubs President Jed Hoyer’s summer sell-off in 2021, Báez still has the city on his mind.

“The city and the people, man, the way everybody loves their sports here, not just baseball, and they really care about it, and they support everybody,” he said Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field. “We had an off day and just kind of went around the city, took all the boys. They were really excited at how nice people are here.”

Was Báez still recognized on the streets?

“A few (times),” he said. “You can’t hide from that.”

It’s hard to imagine, but nearly 12 years have passed since former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry drafted Báez with the No. 9 pick of the 2011 draft. In his last act as GM, Hendry signed Baez to a $2.7 million bonus. Four days later, the Cubs announced Hendry had been fired three weeks earlier but they let him stick around to finish signing his final draft class.

It was a decision the Cubs would not regret.

When Báez was called up in summer 2014, the hype for the shortstop was unlike anything Cubs fans had seen since Kerry Wood’s debut in 1998.

“It’s completely blown out of proportion,” pitcher Jake Arrieta said before Baez’s debut at Coors Field. “He’s an extremely good player. I would just like to see him come up here and let him play. The outside expectations are going to be elevated because of his status, which the media doesn’t care about though it’s unfair to him.

“He’s going to put up good numbers. He’s going to be a good player for us. Just let him go out there and let his ability shine. That’s the most important thing.”

Báez grew into one of the most popular players in Cubs history, and his ascent paralleled the team’s rise to World Series champions. It looked as if the Cubs would extend him in spring training 2020, but talks chilled after the pandemic delayed the start of the season, eventually leading to the trade to the New York Mets in 2021.

The Cubs had another chance at re-signing him after that season, but Báez wound up signing a six-year, $140 million deal with the Tigers, who were in the midst of a rebuild. One year later, the Cubs gave Dansby Swanson a seven-year, $177 million contract, making him the face of the franchise.

Some Cubs fans credit Hoyer for not overpaying Báez, while others miss his presence and entertainment value.

“With all due respect, I don’t care what people say about me or my numbers or my attitude or what I do,” Báez said. “I’m going to be myself, whether people like it or not.”

Sox fans still consider Báez an enemy and boo him every time he steps to the plate. It’s something he doesn’t mind and seemed to egg on.

“Kind of used to it now,” he said. “When I was with the Cubs across town, that battle was really tough. The fans are going to do whatever they’re going to do. We’ll see how it goes this weekend. We’re playing good baseball, and that’s our focus.”

After a 96-loss season in 2022, the Tigers started poorly again, and Báez was hitting .100 on April 13 when he had a particularly bad day. In a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, he was slow getting out of the box while watching a ball he thought was a home run and wound up on second. One batter later he was doubled off on Akil Baddoo’s lineout when he forgot the number of outs.

Manager A.J. Hinch pulled his star out of the game, and Báez’s benching made headlines.

But then things changed. Over his next 39 games entering the weekend, Báez hit .252 with 26 RBIs. He still lacked power with only three home runs but was close to being the old Báez. The Tigers began to play better after the incident and entered the weekend two games behind the division-leading Minnesota Twins.

Báez said he didn’t have an issue with Hinch pulling him.

“It wasn’t A.J.,” he said. “It was just me and my head. The only thing I can say about that was I felt like I was (still adjusting) with the (pitch) clock. My mind wasn’t right. I was all over the place, and that day I switched everything up.

“I called time before the first pitch because I was struggling, not seeing the ball. Everything was right, my timing, (and) I hit the ball good. I thought it was gone, took my time out of the box, then forgot my outs.

“Just bad for me. I don’t like to make excuses, but I called my family and told them everything I was feeling. Then everything went away, to be honest. I’m still making adjustments, working hard, trying not to swing at the slider down and away.”

Báez laughed. Some things don’t change.

He said he was not bitter at the Cubs for not extending him and still had warm thoughts about the organization. He might even return to live in Chicago after his career.

“We have great memories here,” he said. “We won here. I know how special it was for us at that moment. It’s something that’s always going to be part of me.”

He won’t get to return to Wrigley Field with the Tigers until 2024, but when he does he said it will be like going home again. In a sense, he never left.

“I’ve got my Cubs tattoo from the World Series,” Báez said. “That’s something that’s never going to be taken away from me, like the ring. Obviously I’m trying to win and trying to win here. I feel wherever I’m at I’ve got my good vibes and it just spreads around.”