The New York Mets were sitting at 54-47 In late July of 2021 when then General Manager Zack Scott pulled the trigger on a deal that brought Cubs star infielder Javier Báez and starter Trevor Williams to Queens with former first-round draft selection Pete Crow-Armstrong heading back to Chicago.
We’ve acquired two-time All-Star infielder Javier Báez, RHP Trevor Williams and cash considerations from Chicago (NL) in exchange for minor league outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. https://t.co/iguq38bish
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 30, 2021
At the time, trading Crow-Armstrong was undoubtedly a bold decision, but one that could be justified by the potential impact of Báez along with the existing shoulder injury that Crow-Armstrong was dealing with. Unfortunately, despite Báez posting a 141 wRC+ after the trade, the Mets struggled in the second half of the season and ended up 3rd in the NL East with a record of 77-85. Báez did everything he could to help the club down the stretch, but things simply did not work out.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is about to make the Mets regret trading him away
Crow-Armstrong has since blossomed into one of the best prospects in baseball, ranking as high as 12th best according to MLB Pipeline. He grades out well across the board, but especially on defense where he received an 80 grade on the 20-80 scale. This is as elite as elite can get.
Crow-Armstrong earned a September call-up in 2023, but fully showcased his defensive skills in 2024, posting a 99th percentile Fielding Run Value. He also stole 27 bases and hit double-digit home runs.
Play No. 26 of 2024: Pete Crow-Armstrong with a game-winning catch for the @Cubs! 🦸♂️ pic.twitter.com/LAk6I9v7E4
— MLB (@MLB) December 6, 2024
One of the most noticeable philosophies of the Mets front office since the hiring of David Stearns as the President of Baseball Operations is the focus on defense, especially in center field. Brandon Nimmo was shifted to left field in 2024, and quality defenders Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor were added to roam center field. This offseason, Bader was replaced with Jose Siri, another great defender in center. Pete Crow-Armstrong is a player that perfectly aligns with David Stearns’ beliefs and as a left-handed batter, would be a perfect complement to one of Taylor or Siri for the foreseeable future.
At just 22-years-old, Crow-Armstrong is primed to improve at the plate to compliment his great defense and speed, making 2025 the year the Mets look back and wish they could have a do-over of the trade they made a few seasons ago.