The Chicago Cubs dealt shortstop Javier Báez and right-hander Trevor Williams to the New York Mets, the teams announced Friday, shortly before Major League Baseball's trade deadline. As part of the deal, the Cubs will receive outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Mets' No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
Báez, 28, has spent all eight of his major-league seasons with the Cubs, earning two All-Star nods, a Gold Glove award and helping the team win the World Series in 2016. This season, he's slashing .248/.292./.484 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs in 91 games.
"He's a very exciting player," Mets manager Luis Rojas said shortly after the news of the trade broke. "I've always been a fan from afar."
Báez, who will be a free agent after this season, said he would be open to signing with the Cubs again.
"To be honest, I would love to, but I don’t know what will happen this offseason with all these moves and the plan that this organization has.," he said. "Obviously, I’m grateful for everything they’ve done for me."
Williams, 29, is 4-2 with a 5.06 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings across 13 appearances (12 starts) this season, his first with the Cubs. He spent the first five years in the majors with the Pirates.
Crow-Armstrong, 19, was the Mets' first-round pick in the 2020 draft.
The deal comes after the Cubs traded first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees on Thursday and closer Craig Kimbrel to the White Sox earlier Friday. They also sent third baseman Kris Bryant to the Giants minutes before Friday's deadline.
(Photo: Nick Wosika / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Javier Báez to the Mets, Kris Bryant to the Giants: Roundtable reaction from The Athletic MLB's writers
Why this deal makes sense for the Mets
Tim Britton, Mets beat writer: From a position-player standpoint, the Mets were looking for, in order: a right-handed bat, a right-handed bat that mashes lefties, and a right-handed bat that mashes lefties and can play shortstop. Báez fits all three criteria.
He can sub in for Francisco Lindor until the shortstop returns next month, and he can slide to second or third afterward. He’ll give an underperforming New York offense a boost, especially against lefty starters: The Mets are 11-20 against southpaw starters this season.
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How will be Báez be remembered in Chicago?
Sahadev Sharma, Cubs beat writer: Báez is an easy fan favorite and someone who brings a tremendous amount of energy and flair to the field. The 2020 season was difficult for him particularly because of the lack of fans, as he has often said he feeds off their presence and the desire to excite.
Little League coaches around the Chicagoland area often joked that Báez's unique play made it tough for them to teach the game to kids who wanted to emulate a player who is impossibly unique.
His rare tagging ability, magical slides and impressive displays of power will be hard for Cubs fans to part with, as he's easily one of the more likable and fun players the team has had. And that doesn't even touch on the fact that he's an elite defender at a hugely important position.
How do the Cubs plan to rebuild?
Sharma: While it looks like the Cubs are completely tearing it down, they've accumulated some really impressive pieces. Crow-Armstrong looks like the center fielder of the future for the Cubs, with one scout suggesting he had the highest ceiling of anyone in the Mets system.
How quickly this turns around is the question. Will they spend this offseason? What type of pitching will they add? Do they look to go after Báez in the winter after trading him away? With Nico Hoerner up (though currently on the IL), Justin Steele likely making starts soon and Keegan Thompson getting stretched out in Iowa, there will be chances to see what the future holds, but more will need to be done this winter.
But the Cubs system has suddenly gone from questionable to filled with upside. It's not going to make the fans happy right now — they're likely shell-shocked — but Jed Hoyer and company impressed many around the league today with what they managed to get done.
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