NY Mets rumors: Stealing Cubs trade target would be satisfying Pete Crow-Armstrong payback

The Chicago Cubs took Pete Crow-Armstrong from the New York Mets. We handed them a future Gold Glover with wheels and swagger for two months of Javier Báez’s helmet-flying strikeouts. Now PCA is turning into everything the Mets hoped he'd be, and the sting has only sharpened with time. But what if there was a way to dull it, just a little?

Enter Mitch Keller. The Pirates righty is reportedly on both the Mets' and Cubs' trade radar, and if David Stearns can pry him away first, it won’t erase the PCA deal... but it’ll feel pretty good. Swiping a Cubs target, especially one that would help this much, would be a small but satisfying act of baseball vengeance, like stealing their dessert after they ran off with your entrée.

Mitch Keller is shaping up as a trade prize that could boost the NY Mets’ pitching while delivering a subtle payback to the Cubs.

Both the Mets and Cubs are reportedly circling Mitch Keller, but for different reasons. Chicago’s rotation has struggled; they rank in the bottom half of the league in ERA and sit fourth-worst in home runs allowed per nine innings (1.50). That is not ideal in a ballpark where the wind tends to do as it pleases. Keller’s stingy 0.72 HR/9 would be a much-needed fix for a team leaking long balls.

The Mets’ rotation, anchored by Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Kodai Senga, and Sean Manaea, looks solid on paper but has been far from airtight. Injuries and inconsistency have made it clear they could use another dependable arm. Keller’s 3.58 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and top 15 percent walk rate makes him the kind of reliable middle-rotation starter who can eat innings and steady the ship.

Keller’s contract adds serious value. Locked in through 2028 for about $56 million dollars, he is more of a long-term asset than a rental fling. Mets fans have spent the season watching Pete Crow-Armstrong light up Chicago, a constant reminder of what slipped through the cracks. Landing Keller before the Cubs get their hands on him would be a small but sweet moment of payback. It’s not just about solidifying their rotation; it’s about sending a message that the Amazins are ready to play smart, build deep, and maybe, just maybe, make their rivals a little jealous along the way.