Chicago Cubs: What a Javier Baez reunion might look like this offseason

After the trade deadline, there was optimism the Chicago Cubs could at least try to re-sign their core in the offseason in some way. At least one or two of them. Maybe? Then, Anthony Rizzo and Jed Hoyer had an exchange that seemed likely to sour any notions of him coming back. Kris Bryant is happy in the Bay Area contending for another World Series. How about Javier Baez?

Of course, Baez was traded with Trevor Williams for Mets prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong. At the time, I believe the anxiety-ridden phrase I blurted out was “Pete Crow-who-what?!” Well, upon digging deeper, I actually love Crow-Armstrong’s upside. He is currently the Cubs’ #5 overall prospect at this point in time after the midseason updated prospect rankings were announced last week, so that’s actually fantastic if you consider that Baez more than likely was gone after this season… or is he?

Hopefully, this was all an evil ploy and Baez and Hoyer knew all along they’d secure a top prospect and Baez would return, inking his deal and spending the rest of his days as a Cub. Is it completely out of the realm of possibility Chicago looks to re-sign Baez at this point? After looking at his numbers, I’m not so sure the Mets want to indulge in an extension even if it is to play alongside longtime friend, Francisco Lindor.

Baez is currently slashing a mere .205/.262/.410 in an 11-game span. He recently landed on the 10-day IL with back spasms but was activated just on August 22. In his first game back, he managed to go 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles. So hopefully he cools off before Steve Cohen, the Mets owner, gets any bright ideas.