1 Mets trade that will begin to hurt this year

Prediction: pain! At least when it comes to this one New York Mets trade that’s going to finally start to hurt in 2023.

Back in 2021, the Mets made the decision to acquire Javier Baez and Trevor Williams in a deal with the Chicago Cubs. You already know where I’m going with this. Pete Crow-Armstrong is about to deliver some emotions to New York.

Is this Jarred Kelenic all over again where he’ll fizzle out upon his MLB debut? Crow-Armstrong has yet to make his big league debut and remains a candidate to wait at least another year. Ranked as the 28th best prospect according to MLB.com, it’s in 2023 when we feel the real pains of this trade.

The big 2021 NY Mets trade deadline deal will begin to hurt in 2023

Baez didn’t stay with the Mets very long but at least in 2022 we had Trevor Williams returning. Williams was a dangerous weapon for the team both out of the bullpen and as a starter on short notice. He helped temporarily ease the aches of knowing the Mets may have given up a future star. With him now gone and with the Washington Nationals, the trade will do nothing but bring us pain and misery.

PCA turns 21 this March. He’s coming off of a fantastic year where he slashed .312/.376/.520 with 16 home runs, 61 RBI, and 32 stolen bases. It’s way too early to make the comparison, but this guy’s mix of speed and power reminds me of Trea Turner. Demographics between the two differ. Crow-Armstrong is a left-handed hitting center fielder. We know Turner as a right-handed shortstop.

All short-term trades eventually reach this point. We’re arriving there in 2023, but without too many buckets full of tears.

The Mets do have plenty of other prospects on the rise and ready to contribute in 2023. Even if Crow-Armstrong becomes the next great Cubs center fielder, we’ve got Brandon Nimmo. There’s also Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, and many more to look forward to. 

Yes it will hurt, but if we put ice on it quickly, maybe it won’t swell up too badly.