Mets Forced to Gamble on New CF After Haunting Trade Fail

The Mets traded Pete Crow-Armstrong to the Cubs for Javier Baez in July 2021, a decision that has aged poorly. While Baez only played half a season, PCA has blossomed into a star with a 6.0 bWAR season in 2025.

Forced to rely on Luis Robert Jr. and Carson Benge in center field, the Mets are now gambling on their outfield depth. With PCA under club control until 2030, the regret over missing a cornerstone player is growing.