(670 The Score) Contract extension talks between Cubs shortstop Javier Baez and the team have been paused due to the coronavirus pandemic, Baez told ESPN.
Baez, 27, is under team control through the 2021 season, and the Cubs have been open about their desire to lock him into an extension. Baez has also been open to an extension and characterized pre-pandemic discussions with the Cubs as "really good."
"We want to reach an agreement, but right now everything is on hiatus," Baez told ESPN. "Just like it happened with baseball, we decided to leave it there. We haven't talked about it anymore.
"I'm very happy in Chicago. I believe it's one of the best organizations in the major leagues. We had several conversations but never focused on a deadline. They were very amicable conversations where we communicated well with each other."
Baez has been an All-Star each of the past two seasons. He finished second in the National League MVP race in a monster 2018 and followed it up by hitting .281 with 29 homers, 85 RBIs and an .847 OPS in 2019.
