Minor leagues: 2007–2013 As a third baseman Báez signed with the
Los Angeles Dodgers as a non-drafted
free agent out of
Bani, Dominican Republic by assistant general manager Logan White on January 22, 2007, His 39 RBIs ranked second in the
Gulf Coast League, his 14 doubles ranked sixth, and his 35 runs ranked eighth, and he was rated as having the best infield arm in the Dodgers organization. in 2008. He split the 2008 season between the
Ogden Raptors of the
Pioneer Baseball League and the
Great Lakes Loons of the
Midwest League, hitting .229/.285/.398 in 120 games with 13 home runs and 66 RBIs. In 2010 Báez spent most of the season with the 66ers, but finished the year with the
Chattanooga Lookouts of the
Class AA Southern League. He played in 84 games, hitting .263/.313/.348 with six homers and 45 RBIs. Báez appeared in 32 games early in 2011 with the Lookouts, hitting only .210/.278/.381 in 105 at bats before spending most of the season on the disabled list. Between the Lookouts and the
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, he played in 128 games and hit .221/.306/.374 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs. To that point he had played 484 minor league games at third base, one at shortstop, and one at first base. He was assigned, as a pitcher, to the Quakes to start the 2013 season, but was promoted to Chattanooga at mid-season. Between the two levels, he appeared in 48 games out of the bullpen and was 3–3 with two saves and a 3.88 ERA in 58 innings. He made his MLB debut later that night against the
Washington Nationals. He allowed a single and a two-run homer to his first two batters before retiring the next three players in his one inning of work. He returned to the minors following the game. After another one game appearance for the Dodgers in July, he joined the bullpen in August and remained there the rest of the season. In 20 appearances, he had an ERA of 2.63, struck out 18 and walked 5. In 2015, he pitched in 52 games with a 3.35 ERA. In the minors, with Chattanooga and the
Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, he pitched in 40 games with a 3.86 ERA and 12 saves. The runs he allowed were on a two-run homer by
Matt Holliday in game one. The following week Báez was placed on the DL with a right pectoral strain and completed 3 scoreless innings in three rehab appearances in Triple-A Oklahoma City before returning to the big league club. In game three of the
2015 NLDS, all three of the batters he faced reached base, two by walk, and he was charged with three runs without getting an out. In 2016 Báez ranked second among Dodger relievers with career-high marks in games (73) and innings (74). He went 3–2 with a 3.04 ERA and 83 strikeouts and limited opponents to a .195 batting average. He also allowed 11 home runs and walked 22 batters. He pitched scoreless innings over four games against the Nationals in the
2016 NLDS but allowed six runs in innings in three games of the
2016 National League Championship Series against the
Chicago Cubs. The slow pace of play employed by Báez during the 2016 postseason drew criticism from reporters and is frequently referenced in support of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's quest to speed up baseball with "pace of play" initiatives. Báez was hit with a ball while throwing batting practice early in spring training in 2017, which caused him to miss most of training camp and begin the season on the disabled list. He rejoined the team on April 14. In a team-leading 66 relief appearances for the 2017 Dodgers he was 3–6 with a 2.95 ERA and 64 strikeouts. Báez was on the Dodgers roster for the
2017 NLDS but did not appear in a game and was removed from the playoff roster for subsequent series. After receiving written warnings from Commissioner
Rob Manfred, Báez decreased his average time between pitches and
Jeremy Jeffress took over the distinction of being the slowest relief pitcher in 2017. Báez agreed to terms with the Dodgers on a $1.5 million contract for 2018 to avoid salary arbitration. In his fifth major league season in 2018 Báez was 4–3 and posted a 2.88 ERA in 55 relief appearances. He struck out 62 batters in innings of work, and held opposing batters to a .220 average. During the 2018 postseason, Báez went 1–0 with a 1.59 ERA in innings, striking out 14 batters against 5 walks. Báez finished the 2019 season 7–2 with one save (the first in his career) and a 3.10 ERA, and led the Dodgers in games pitched with 71, in which he pitched 69.2 innings. In the
pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Báez pitched 17 innings in 18 games with six earned runs allowed for a 3.18 ERA, and saved two games. Báez missed the beginning of the season after he tested positive for
COVID-19 in Spring Training and was placed on the 60-day injured list on April 26, 2021, with shoulder soreness. On August 10, Báez was activated off of the injured list. He appeared in three games early in the
2022 season for Houston, tallying total innings and allowing five hits, three walks, and three earned runs. On April 26, 2022, Baez was
designated for assignment. Baez cleared waivers and was released by the Astros the following day.
Los Angeles Dodgers (second stint) On May 19,
2022, Báez signed a minor league deal to return to the
Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He pitched in five games in the
Arizona Complex League and seven games for the Oklahoma City Dodgers, allowing 11 runs in 11 innings. He was released on August 20. == Nickname ==