Envisioning a Javier Baez trade between Chicago Cubs, New York Mets

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One day to go until the MLB trade deadline. Even Thursday figures to be a pretty wild day. We’ve already seen a pretty steady amount of moves in the last few days. For the Chicago Cubs, Joc Pederson is gone. Andrew Chafin has departed to Oakland. Talks about Kris Bryant and Craig Kimbrel continue to swirl. Now, Javier Baez has stated he wants to play alongside good friend, Francisco Lindor.

When a superstar in the league makes a comment such as this, naturally speculation runs rampant. At this point, it is simply speculation. Though Baez would be a good fit on the Mets with Lindor on the IL, the general consensus is the Cubs shortstop isn’t going anywhere before the deadline.

Like all things around the trade deadline, that could be subject to change.

Javier Báez: "If I go to the free agency, I would like to play with Francisco Lindor. I loved playing with him in the World Classic. It is the only option I would take to play second base if it is to play with him, otherwise I stay playing at shortstop. pic.twitter.com/aOiZ8FbROZ
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) July 28, 2021

To me, Baez is just speculating. He says nothing of being traded. He probably also understands that Steve Cohen, the richest owner in baseball, is probably more willing to pay out a contract closer to what he’s looking for than Tom Ricketts.

Chicago Cubs: Javier Baez could make sense at the trade deadline

Make no mistake. Baez makes sense for the New York Mets right now. Especially while Lindor is out. When Lindor is back and you have this duo paired together up the middle, it’s easy to understand why that would be appealing to the Mets front office.

Like I said, Cohen is willing to blow past the luxury tax threshold. Being worth $14 billion can give you that luxury and allow you to not really care. Furthermore, after this season, the Mets will need to address other needs. Specifically in their starting rotation. Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard are both set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason.

Come to think of it, so are eight other players. The Mets have a grand total of $69.3 million scheduled to come off the books when the season is over. That’s before addressing the finances of Kevin Pillar’s $2.9M player option for 2022. New York also has the ability to still take on the remainder of Baez’s contract this season without going past the $210 million luxury tax threshold, offer him a sizable extension moving forward and address the starting pitching needs in the offseason.

They don’t necessarily have to address pitching at the deadline, as they sit seventh in team ERA at 3.56. So, what would you get for El Mago in return?

Chicago Cubs: Could two All-Stars be packaged together?

Personally, I love the idea of packaging Javier Baez and Kris Bryant here. Though the Mets wouldn’t necessarily be keen on two rentals, It’s not everyday you have a chance to trade for two All-Stars when you’re a contending team either. The reason I love this so much is because the return haul they could get from the Mets would be phenomenal. Looking at the Mets prospects, you’re probably not prying away Francisco Alvarez, the team’s #1 prospect and #34 overall. At least that is, if you want more than one top prospect in return.

Do you roll the dice with #53 overall, Matt Allan? Allan is missing all of 2021 and most likely part of 2022 due to Tommy John surgery. He was and still is an extremely highly-touted prospect, picked up by the Mets in the third round of the 2019 draft. He was believed by many to be one of the best arms in his draft class. However, especially now with Tommy John surgery, he is likely a few years away from the big leagues. Jed Hoyer has stated he is looking for guys closer to MLB readiness.

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Ronny Mauricio, the Mets #2 prospect and #50 overall has been talked about in the past regarding a potential return on the Kris Bryant front. It was however said that Bryant alone would probably not be enough to secure the young shortstop. This leads me back to Javier Baez and other Mets prospects.

Looking again at the Mets system and how to pull off a blockbuster of this caliber, we turn our attention to #4 in the Mets organization (73 overall), Brett Baty. Baty is currently at the Double-A level with a big league ETA as soon as 2022. Mauricio, in High-A, also has around the same ETA as Baty.

Now, with Bryant not being enough for Mauricio and Bryant and Baez being too much, how could you pair the two All-Stars and get a return of Mauricio and Baty? How about Bryant, Baez and a good reliever on a team-friendly contract with multiple years of team control such as Dillon Maples for the two young top 100 prospects?

Keeping in mind the money coming off the books in the offseason for the Mets, Cohen could afford to resign both Bryant and Baez as well based on whatever deal structure they have AAV-wise. It would give the Mets incredible improvements to their defense. Not to mention a line up consisting of Lindor, Bryant, Baez, Alonso, etc. would be near tops in MLB. Around the diamond, whether you use KB at third or JD Davis and stick Bryant in the outfield, you’re still escalating yourself toward top-notch defensively.

Next. Looking at Mets, Dodgers and Rays trade targets. dark

On the Cubs side, you’re getting two top 100 prospects with sky-high potential that could come up as soon as next year. That fact that Mauricio are Baty are a shortstop and third baseman is ever so fitting. It’s about to get really crazy in baseball by Friday afternoon.

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