Overview

• Stark’s annual nontraditional awards in The Athletic designate Báez as the American League’s second-half “Least Valuable Player.”
• Since the All-Star break, Báez has slashed roughly .213/.221/.294 with just one home run, last going deep on August 2 and last recording an RBI on August 15.
• Báez’s downturn has been tied by outlets to Detroit’s loss of a once-comfortable AL Central lead and a far shakier playoff outlook.
• The struggles have been more pronounced on the road, where his production has dipped further compared with Comerica Park.
• In contrast, Báez earned an All-Star start off a strong first half worth about 2.2 bWAR, and Stark also mentioned Tyler O’Neill and Luis Robert Jr. as AL LVP candidates.