Infamous NY Mets trade has an ironic twist almost 4 years later

The New York Mets have made it known that they are searching for a front-line starting centerfielder. Lo and behold, look no further, there are two players who have been voted in as the starting centerfielders for the 2025 All Star Game. Whoops, too late, they already had them.

That’s right! The starter for the American League is Javy Baez and the starter for the National League is Pete Crow-Armstrong. Remember them?

The New York Mets let not one, but two, centerfielders get away

The Mets had Pete Crow Armstrong in the low end of their minor league system but he was labeled as a “special” player. And with the Mets, we all know how THAT can go. The Mets traded him to get Javy Baez from the Chicago Cubs during the 2021 season. Now how did that all work out.

Baez was jettisoned immediately after the 2021 season after he caused some havoc on the field and conflict in the clubhouse. He ended up signing with the Detroit Tigers and one of the most dynamic players in baseball turned into a complete dud.

Fast forward to 2025 and the athletic Baez was asked to move to centerfield. (How many times have the Mets tried to move players to the outfield and created a debacle?) Baez has been so rejuvenated that he is the leading candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. He is one of the big reasons the Tigers are leading the A.L. Central Division with the best record in the League.

After hitting .238. 222. and .184 the last three seasons, Baez is hitting .285 with 9 HR and 36 RBI while playing an outstanding centerfield.

Speaking of outstanding defense in centerfield, PCA, as he is referred to, has become the star of the Cubs daily highlight reel. He has been remarkable at the plate as well, hitting .265 with 21 HR and 25 SB.

He made a brief debut in 2023 and looked really overmatched going 0-14, failing to get a hit. He was brought along more slowly in 2024 and managed to hit .237 with 10 HR and 27 SB.

And this season he has just taken the Windy City by storm, and is a huge reason why the Cubs are in first place in the N.L. Central Division.

The Tigers and the Cubs are both in first place in their respective divisions. Both the Tigers and the Cubs are the benefactors of great play in centerfield.

PCA and Baez are both starting in centerfield for the mid-season classic. Both are exciting and play with reckless abandon. The Mets are scouring the internet and junk piles for a centerfielder. That’s how that all worked out.