Mets’ Prospect Brett Baty would ignite the Chicago Cubs rebuildJordan Campbellon July 14, 2022 at 8:34 pm

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Jun 15, 2019; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets first round pick in the 2019 MLB draft Brett Baty takes batting practice prior to the game between the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs open a four-game weekend series against the New York Mets on Thursday night and there is a strong chance that the two teams will come together on a trade for the second time in as many seasons.

Last season, the Cubs fleeced the Mets when they landed top outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong for shortstop Javier Baez and veteran starting pitcher Trevor Williams. Baez is no longer with the Mets and Crow-Armstrong has emerged as arguably the Cubs’ top prospect this season.

Even though the Baez trade did not work out for the Mets, the Cubs have a trade chip in catcher Willson Contreras that may be too valuable to pass up.

Earlier this week, the Mets placed catcher James McCann on the injured list with an oblique strain. McCann is expected to be sidelined beyond the 10-day designation and that puts the Mets in the market for a catcher.

The Mets were already expected to be in the sweepstakes for Contreras and the injury to McCann may intensify the team’s efforts to acquire the Cubs’ starting catcher.

If the Cubs and Mets do come together on a trade, the Mets’ prospect to keep in mind is third baseman, Brett Baty.

Since being selected by the Mets in the first round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, Baty has quickly ascended towards the top half of prospects throughout all of Minor League Baseball.

MLB’s official prospect rankings have Baty as the second overall prospect in the Mets’ system and 20th overall in all of Minor League Baseball.

Trading catcher Willson Contreras will be bitter-sweet for the Chicago Cubs.

With the Mets’ Double-A affiliate this season, Baty is hitting .280/.373/.474/.847 to go along with 12 home runs.

Unlike when the Cubs acquired Crown-Armstrong last season, Baty is close to being Major League ready. FanSided’s Rising Apple had a write-up on Baty earlier this season that highlighted the hurdles that the third base prospect has already cleared in his path to the Major Leagues.

If acquired, Baty would instantly become the Cubs’ third baseman of the future with the expectation that he may arrive as early as the 2023 season.

Not to mention, Baty would instantly accelerate the Cubs’ rebuild once you factor in the quick ascension of Crow-Armstrong within the Cubs’ minor league system, the expectation that outfield prospect Brennan Davis will be ready early in 2023, and the breakout season from shortstop Nico Hoerner at the Major League level this season.

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