A star prospect blossomed elsewhere, while a fleeting offensive spark faded, leaving the Mets with a glaring reminder of their costly 2021 deadline gamble.
The 2021 New York Mets were on track to be a postseason team at the midway point of the season, sitting eight games over .500 with 48 wins. With their sights set on playing baseball deep into that fall, the Mets were buyers at the trade deadline.
What came of that deadline would be a deal that saw New York send a top outfield prospect to another National League team in exchange for 47 games from infielder Javier Baez. In a recent Bleacher Report article, the deal was mentioned as a trade fail that continues to haunt the Mets.
Looking at how Baez performed in his short time in New York, it makes sense as to why the front office was aggressive in getting the All-Star. Best friends with Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor, the pairing was seamless, and Baez had an amazing second half of the year.
In just 47 games, Baez put up 1.7 WAR and a 140 OPS+. Unfortunately, that success wasn't replicated for the rest of the Mets. They ended up winning just 29 of their final 74 games in a woeful finish to the season that saw them miss the postseason entirely with a record of 77-85.
It only got worse from there for New York, as Baez cashed in on his spectacular season and signed a $140 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. Now, the Mets only had right-hander Trevor Williams to show for what they gave up in the trade.
The reason that the deal still haunts the Mets is that the outfield prospect they gave up – Pete Crow-Armstrong – has established himself as one of the most elite in baseball heading into the 2026 season.
Crow-Armstrong played well in 2024, but enjoyed his true breakout year in 2025. He hit 31 home runs, drove in 95 runs, stole 35 bases, and finished with a .768 OPS. He was great at the plate, but he was even more valuable in the outfield.
He finished in the 99th percentile in fielding run value last season, recording a league-high 24 Outs Above Average. His production at the plate and on defense raised his WAR to 6.0 last year, as he won a Gold Glove, made the All-Star Game, and received MVP votes.
While the Chicago Cubs have been reaping the benefits of Crow-Armstrong, the Mets have nothing left to show for the Baez trade. Williams was in solid form from the mound as a Met, but he only stayed through the 2022 season. From there, all eyes were on how Crow-Armstrong would work out.
As he burst onto the scene in 2025, the Mets outfield was thin, and it again was a problem for them this offseason. They had to trade prospects to gamble on outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to fill out their outfield. Even with Robert Jr.’s addition, the final spot in the outfield is still a question for the Mets.
If New York hadn’t given up so much for 47 games of Baez, it would have one of baseball’s youngest outfield stars to pair with superstar Juan Soto. Instead, Crow-Armstrong is making a name for himself in a Cubs uniform while the Mets have been forced to look elsewhere to field a sufficient outfield. As Crow-Armstrong continues his career in Chicago, the trade will only continue to haunt Mets fans more and more.