First, they were traded for each other.
Now, they’ll be on reverse sides for the MLB All-Star Game.
Pete Crow-Armstrong and Javier Báez were traded for one another practically 4 years in the past in a deal between the Cubs and the Mets, and on Wednesday, they were both named All-Star Game starters as members of the Cubs and Tigers, respectively.
The July 30, 2021, commerce despatched the then-prospect Crow-Armstrong to Chicago as the Mets hoped to profit from bringing in one of Francisco Lindor’s childhood mates and a gifted infielder in Baez, alongside with pitcher Trevor Williams.
Chicago Cubs middle fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) returns to the dugout during the first inning of a baseball sport against the Seattle Mariners at Wrigley Field. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Both gamers have had spectacular 2025 seasons, as Báez has gone through a renaissance of types after struggling in his first three seasons in Detroit — where he signed after a sturdy 47-game stint with the Mets in 2021 — and has turned back into the All-Star he once was.
His 2025 consists of a .783 OPS and 2.2 WAR, which has put him on course for his greatest season in 4 years.
Báez, who made the All-Star Game this 12 months as an outfielder, joins Pete Rose, Harmon Killebrew and Albert Pujols as the only gamers to begin a Midsummer Classic at three or more positions.
Crow-Armstrong has become one of the sport’s greatest outfielders this season, serving as the only player in the majors with 20-plus home runs and stolen bases this season.
He leads National League outfielders in defensive runs saved with 12.
Going into Wednesday night time, both the Cubs and Tigers are atop their respective divisions.
Javier Baez of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Comerica Park on June 17, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images
Addressing the commerce in May during an look on “Baseball Night in New York,” former Mets normal supervisor Zack Scott said that at the time, he was wanting to “add some impact to the lineup.”
Scott did admit a “bias” regarding Crow-Armstrong because of his earlier time in the Red Sox entrance workplace, which hadn’t been “that high” on him during the MLB draft.
“The big thing was the bat,” Scott said. “Loved the defense, the makeup, the speed, had no doubt that that would be there. But did not see this level of power.”
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