During the New York Mets' recent 10-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, Keith Hernandez, a notable figure in Mets history, expressed strong criticism of a past trade. The commentary came as Cubs player Pete Crow-Armstrong, acquired in that trade, scored a run against the Mets.
Hernandez, speaking on the SNY broadcast alongside Gary Cohen and Ron Darling, identified the trade that sent Crow-Armstrong to Chicago as "one of the worst trades in a long while by the Mets." The trade, which occurred at the 2021 deadline, involved the Mets sending Crow-Armstrong to the Cubs in exchange for shortstop Javier Baez, reliever Trevor Williams, and cash considerations.
Cohen noted that the Mets received "six good weeks out of Javy Baez," who batted .299 with nine home runs in 47 games for New York. However, the team missed the playoffs that year, and Baez departed for Detroit in the subsequent offseason. In contrast, Crow-Armstrong is reportedly having a strong season with the Cubs, batting .287 with 17 home runs. The Cubs have secured Crow-Armstrong through 2033 with a six-year, $115 million contract extension set to begin next year.
The Cubs currently hold a 42-37 record, despite a recent skid, heading into Thursday's doubleheader. The Mets, meanwhile, have a 34-45 record, facing ongoing challenges in their pursuit of a wild-card spot. The disparity in player performance and team success since the trade has fueled Hernandez's strong reaction.