Baez won’t play in fall league

MILWAUKEE — The Cubs say shortstop Javier Baez, their top prospect and minor-league player of the year, will skip playing in the Arizona Fall League this year.

“I think he’s kind of emotionally drained after the long season and the playoffs, physically drained,” said Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer. “We agreed the right thing to do was let him work out in Arizona and let him take some time off. He won’t play any winter ball. We mutually agreed. It was a long season for him.

“He had a full season, a great season. We’ll see him in Arizona working out.”

Baez played for Class A Daytona and Class AAA Tennessee this year, combining to hit 37 home runs and drive in 111 while stealing 20 bases. His combined hitting line was .282/.341/.578. Baez will be at Wrigley Field this weekend to accept his player-of-the-year award.

It’s possible the Cubs could put center-field prospect Albert Almora on the full-time Arizona Fall League roster. He currently is a “taxi-squad” member, someone who is active on Wednesdays and Saturday’s during the AFL season.

The Cubs also said they’re moving rehabbing pitcher Arodys Vizcaino (Tommy John surgery) from the AFL to the Arizona instructional league so they can better manage his rehab.

Strong outing for Arrieta:Starting pitcher Jake Arrieta had one of his best outings of the season in Thursday#146;s 5-1 victory over the Brewers. He worked 7 innings and gave up 3 hits and 1 run, a home run in the seventh to Carlos Gomez. Arrieta ran his record to 3-2 with a 3.94 ERA since he joined the Cubs after being traded from Baltimore in July. Command always has been an issue with Arrieta, but he walked one and struck out five Thursday, throwing 88 pitches.#147;For me, that#146;s a typical start,#148; he said. #147;There#146;s a couple things I have to do methodically, and that#146;s control my effort and not get too anxious with throwing the ball through the wall. I just have to be conscious of keeping the ball down and controlling my effort.#148;Castillo hurts knee:Catcher Welington Castillo left Thursday#146;s game in the sixth inning with what the Cubs said was right-knee soreness. Castillo grabbed the back of his leg as he ran to first base while grounding out in the sixth. #147;I grabbed my hamstring, but it was my right knee,#148; he said. #147;It was some sharp pain. I don#146;t know what happened. I was running hard and tried to beat the throw.#148;This and that:Logan Watkins played second base on place of Darwin Barney and collected a career-high 3 hits, going 3-for-4 #133; Brian Bogusevic hit his third career pinch homer, a solo shot to center in the ninth #133; Luis Valbuena snapped an 0-for-14 skid with his 12th homer of the year, a solo drive in the first.