The New York Mets acquired All-Star shortstop Javier Baez, right-hander Trevor Williams, and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs for outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, the clubs announced Friday.
The trade comes days after Baez expressed an interest in playing with Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who's sidelined with a right oblique strain.
"I loved playing with him in the World (Baseball) Classic. It is the only option I would take to play second base if it is to play with him; otherwise, I stay playing at shortstop," Baez said, according to Danny Abriano of SNY.
Baez, 28, is slated to be a free agent after the season. He's batting .248/.292/.484 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs in 91 games this season.
It won't be Baez's first time at the keystone if he does make a move, playing 104 games at the position in 2018.
Williams, 29, primarily served as a starting pitcher throughout his six-year career between the Cubs and Pirates. He's 4-2 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 58 2/3 innings this season. Williams has one more year of arbitration eligibility before hitting free agency in 2023. He was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse later Friday, according to Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News.
New York selected Crow-Armstrong 19th overall in the 2020 MLB Draft, and he was the club's No. 5-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline.
