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Cubs' Baez: Lindor's contract 'helps a lot of shortstops' in free agency

Nuccio DiNuzzo / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Francisco Lindor signing a 10-year contract extension worth a reported $341 million with the New York Mets was music to Javier Baez's ears.

"It helps a lot of players, helps a lot of shortstops for free agency this year," Baez said, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago.

The Chicago Cubs infielder is set to reach free agency at the end of the 2021 season, but he's not the only shortstop hitting the open market. Trevor Story, Carlos Correa, and Corey Seager are free agents this winter and poised for major paydays.

As beneficial as Lindor's contract might be for his fellow shortstops, Baez doesn't expect anyone to get the same deal.

"No one was going to get more than Lindor, and you've got to be honest about it," Baez said, according to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. "It opens the door for other people."

Unlike Lindor, Baez didn't set an Opening Day deadline to reach an extension agreement with Chicago and doesn't see talks being a distraction during the season.

"We'll see what happens," Baez said, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. "They're talking. I'm just playing my game."

The 28-year-old has spent his entire career with the Cubs and was a key contributor when the club won the 2016 World Series. The two-time All-Star had his best season in 2018 when he owned a .290 batting average with 34 home runs and 111 RBIs while finishing second in NL MVP voting behind Christian Yelich.

Chicago could look like a different team in 2022. In addition to Baez, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant are also set to be free agents at season's end.

Bringing back all three seems unlikely unless the Cubs decide to spend big like the Mets or some other clubs, which Baez doesn't seem to think is a priority for the front office.

"They don't have to act the same," Baez said, according to Wittenmyer. "They've got different plans."

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