Chicago Cubs: Javier Baez, Trevor Williams traded to the New York Mets

As previously speculated, Javier Baez is the second member of the Chicago Cubs heading to the Big Apple. This time, in the form of the New York Mets. Baez will get his wish to play alongside good friend, Francisco Lindor. The core is rapidly diminishing as it now is left with just Kris Bryant, ironically, as the only sole remaining member of the core.

Losing Rizzo and now Baez is a crushing blow to the hearts of Chicago Cubs fans everywhere. In his career with Chicago, El Mago slashed .262/.303/.474, earned All-Star honors twice in 2018 and 2019, received a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove and finished runner-up in the 2018 NL MVP race.

Baez gets his wish to play alongside good friend Francisco Lindor and will presumably play second when Lindor returns off the IL. Nothing but the very best to El Mago.

Trevor Williams also has departed to the Mets. The big right-hander went 4-2 with a 5.06 ERA in 58 2/3 innings pitched. We wish him well.

As painful as it is when these things happen, we still need to look at the return. In exchange for Baez, the Cubs received Peter Crow Armstrong, the Mets’ #5 prospect, who slashed .417/.563/.500 for Low-A Southeast in just 24 ABs this season before seeing his season ended by a shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.

The 19-year-old outfielder was drafted straight out of high cchool with the #19 pick overall in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft. Needless to say, he’s a high upside guy and a big get for Jed Hoyer and the Cubs.

This may seem like a rather small return for Baez and Williams on paper. Unfortunately, Williams didn’t have much trade value and Baez is a rental who leads the league in strikeouts. Crow comes with a ton of potential – although it’ll be a spell before we see him in Chicago. One thing’s for sure: the Cubs’ farm system is going to be among the best in baseball before the day is up.