The Chicago Cubs essentially traded any valuable players not attached to the club by cement via a fire sale ahead of Friday's MLB trade deadline. Among them was two-time All-Star shortstop Javier Baez, who was shipped to the New York Mets so he can eventually play second base next to Puerto Rico World Baseball Classic teammate Francisco Lindor whenever the shortstop returns from his right oblique strain next month.
Baez, who is set to hit free agency after the season, told reporters Thursday he's open to a Chicago return.
"To be honest, I would love to, but I don’t know what will happen this offseason with all these moves and the plan that this organization has," Baez said of potentially signing with the Cubs this fall or winter, per Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. "Obviously, I’m grateful for everything they’ve done for me."
This may come as a surprise to some Mets fans, as Baez recently said he'd be interested in signing with the Amazin's just to reunite with Lindor:
In case this interests anyone, here are Francisco Lindor and Javier Báez turning a double play with the bases loaded to get Edwin Díaz out of jam...pic.twitter.com/BQfzxKow76
— Nathalie Alonso (@NathalieMLB) July 30, 2021
Lindor and Baez's friendship ❤️
— ESPN (@espn) July 30, 2021
Reunited in New York. pic.twitter.com/N6nwaLJJan
Also on Friday, the Mets confirmed that ace Jacob deGrom has been shut down from throwing for at least two weeks after he experienced a setback in his recovery from forearm tightness. The Mets now say deGrom likely won't make another big-league start before September.
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