The New York Mets are finalizing a deal to acquire shortstop Javier Baez from the Chicago Cubs, multiple outlets reported Friday.
The deal is pending the result of medical exams, per the reports.
MLB Network said the Cubs will receive 19-year-old outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong in exchange for Baez, a two-time All-Star and reigning Gold Glove winner, plus right-handed starter Trevor Williams.
Baez, 28, is batting .248 with 22 homers, 65 RBIs, 13 stolen bases and a National League-leading 131 strikeouts in 91 games this season.
Baez has been with the Cubs since they drafted him ninth overall in 2011. He made his MLB debut in 2014, won a National League Championship Series co-MVP award and a World Series ring in 2016, made the All-Star teams in 2018 and 2019, and won his first Gold Glove in 2020.
He is a .262 career hitter through 815 games with 140 home runs and 443 RBIs, including a league-leading 111 RBIs in 2018.
Williams has pitched in 13 games this year, starting 12, and amassed a 4-2 record and 5.06 ERA with Chicago. It was his first season with the Cubs after starting his MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates for five seasons. Williams has a lifetime 4.49 ERA and 35-39 record.
Crow-Armstrong was the Mets’ first-round pick (19th overall) in 2020. He batted .417 with two doubles and four RBIs in six games at Class-A St. Lucie this season before injuring his right shoulder. The team announced in May that he would have surgery to repair a torn labrum and cartilage damage.
–Field Level Media