Kathy Willens/Associated PressAccording to reports, the Chicago Cubs reached a deal Friday to trade shortstop Javier Baez from the Chicago Cubs to the New York Mets before the deadline for the 2021 MLB trade deadline.The news was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN. Jon Heyman from MLB Network reported that the Mets will send outfield prospect Pete Crow Armstrong to Baez and pitcher Trevor Williams.Baez has become one of the best-rounded shortstops in MLB since he became a Cubs full-time player in 2016. Baez enjoyed a strong 2019, posting a.281/.316/.531 triple slash line with 29 homers across 138 games.These are solid numbers, but not as strong as his 2018 campaign which saw him record career-highs in OPS (.881) and homers (34).He posted a disappointing.599 OPS in 2020, but this was due to the coronavirus-shortened season. However, the sample size was much smaller than his previous productive years.Baez's 2021 season has seen him accumulate a.775 OPS and 22 home runs in 91 games.The Puerto Rico native, who is 28 years old, is also a skilled player. FanGraphs ranked him eighth among MLB players with 15 saved runs during MLB's 2019 full season.Baez, who was the ninth overall pick in 2011's MLB draft, has spent his entire career with the Cubs. He expressed his desire to continue that tradition last September.He said to reporters, "I grew-up here, and hopefully my entire career is here," We'll see.Chicago was a seller before the trade deadline this year, as it fell to last in playoff contention. Baez, one of the players who were scheduled to go on the open market, was part of the sale, despite his desire not to be a Cub.After the blockbuster deal, the Mets will have a shortstop who will join Pete Alonso (left) and Dominic Smith (right). He will likely begin at shortstop, but Francisco Lindor could return from the injured list.
