The 2021 trade deadline was an event many Cubs fans will always remember.

In a span of 24 hours, they saw the Cubs trade away three members of the 2016 World Series team – Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javy Báez.

[Report: Top pitching prospect Cade Horton set to join Cubs in New York]

As the Cubs head to New York this weekend, it’s worth taking a look back at that fateful trade deadline. That’s because the Cubs will take on the NL East-leading Mets – the team they acquired starting center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong from nearly four years ago.

Let’s revisit the 2021 deal between the Cubs and the Mets:

Mets acquire:
• SS Javy Báez
• RHP Trevor Williams
• Cash Considerations

Cubs acquire:
• OF prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong

On July 30, 2021, the Cubs dealt both Báez and Williams to the Mets for one of their top prospects, 19-year-old center fielder Crow-Armstrong.

The Cubs were sitting at 50-54, 11.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and 10 games behind the San Diego Padres in the NL Wild Card race. The Mets were 55-47, leading the NL East with a four-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies with postseason aspirations.

This is what Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer had to say at the time of the trade:

“We realized we’re not gonna compete this year and in that situation, the right thing to do is to make trades to look toward the future. Ultimately, we had two more [months] of control over [Báez, Rizzo and Bryant] then they were free agents. So, the right thing to do with those two months was to convert those two months into a lot of prospects and a lot of good players.”

After completing the trade, both the Cubs (21-37) and Mets (22-38) had nearly identical records the rest of the season. New York finished 11.5 games out of first place in the NL East.

[MORE: Cubs teammates troll Pete Crow-Armstrong over hilarious dive vs. Giants]

Despite missing the postseason, Báez had a solid stint with the Mets in 2021 – his only season with the team. In 47 games, he slashed .299/.371/.515 with nine home runs and 22 RBI. Báez inked a 6-year, $140 million deal with the Detroit Tigers that offseason.

Williams had a longer stint in Queens, appearing in 40 games in 2021-2022, posting a 3.17 ERA. He signed a three-year, $13 million deal with the Washington Nationals following the 2022 season.

As for Crow-Armstrong, the trade came as a shock to him. He was the Mets first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft – selected three spots after the Cubs drafted Ed Howard. The 19-year-old was on the IL recovering from right shoulder surgery that ended his season after playing only six games.

“I didn’t feel like I was a part of any trade talks that I had seen on TV or anything like that,” Crow-Armstrong told Chris Rose last September of the trade. “Because I was hurt during that time. I had a sling on my shoulder … I thought it was a joke.”

Crow-Armstrong has been must-see TV since making his MLB debut with the Cubs in 2023, making electric plays all over the field.

There is some irony to Crow-Armstrong making his debut against the Rockies in Colorado. The player he modeled his game after – one of the players he was traded for – also made his MLB debut in Denver.

“I modeled my game after Javy, first and foremost,” Crow-Armstrong told Marquee Sports Network in a 2022 interview. “Energy-wise, style of play, character-wise — I think that’s a guy that a lot of kids should be looking up to in terms of how to keep the fun in the game and the flair in the game and how to be a good leader. Javy was big for me once I started developing as a player.”

Crow-Armstrong is the Cubs’ center fielder of the future. He’s appeared in 147 games over the last two seasons in the big leagues, including all 38 the Cubs have played this year. His 2.2 fWAR this season is tied for third best in all of MLB.

As he returns to New York to face the team that drafted him, Crow-Armstrong has become a budding star and a fan favorite in Chicago.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him and having a relationship with him,” Hoyer told reporters this week. “He’s a very smart kid. He’s really grounded. He’s just fun to be around.”