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Javier Báez has been both an outstanding Cubs player and one who wants you to tear your hair out.
He hits home runs. He makes impossible plays in the field. He runs bases with daring and abandon.
And then he strikes out on pitches way out of the zone. A lot. And he never — well, almost never — walks.
Now he’ll be doing all that for the New York Mets:
BREAKING: The New York Mets are finalizing a trade to acquire shortstop Javier Baez from the Chicago Cubs, sources tell ESPN. Deal is pending medicals.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2021
This likely means that Nico Hoerner is the Cubs shortstop of the future — when he comes back from the oblique injury that currently has him on the injured list. In the meantime, Sergio Alcántara likely holds down the position.
Javy was great fun. Javy was beloved. He’ll be missed, but the Cubs are clearly moving on to the next phase of franchise history. The Cubs don’t face the Mets again this year, so we won’t see Báez until 2022 — and he could wind up somewhere else, as he’s a free agent.
There is not yet any word on the return to the Cubs from the Mets in this deal. When there is, this post will be updated.
UPDATE — Trevor Williams, who was supposed to start tonight’s game in Washington, is being included in this deal:
Source confirms: Báez and Trevor Williams to Mets, pending medical review. First with Báez: @feinsand.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2021
UPDATE 2 — Here’s the return:
#Mets are sending 2020 first round pick CF Pete Crow-Armstrong to the Cubs
— Pat Ragazzo (@ragazzoreport) July 30, 2021