To Fix the Crow-Armstrong Mess, the Mets Considered Letting Pete Alonso Go

In one of the more shocking MLB revelations of the 2025 season, it has emerged that the New York Mets nearly sacrificed franchise slugger Pete Alonso in an effort to correct a costly trade blunder from 2021. According to reports from SNY’s Andy Martino, the Mets front office quietly reached out to the Chicago Cubs at the 2023 trade deadline with a bold one-for-one proposal: Pete Alonso for Pete Crow-Armstrong.

While the Cubs swiftly rejected the idea, the fact that it was even floated reveals just how much the Mets regret parting ways with Crow-Armstrong — now one of baseball’s brightest young stars — for a short-term rental of Javier Báez and Trevor Williams in 2021.

A Desperate Attempt to Rewind History

The Mets’ front office, then led by Billy Eppler, found itself in a painful bind in 2023. Having traded away marquee names like Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and David Robertson as the team shifted into rebuild mode, the Mets were at a crossroads: stay the course or take one massive swing to reclaim a mistake.

“They owed it to themselves to at least take calls on Pete [Alonso] and see if anyone would offer something they couldn’t pass up,” Martino said. “So they called the Cubs and said, ‘What about Pete [Crow-Armstrong] for Pete [Alonso]? Send him back our way.’”

The Cubs’ answer? A very short conversation. In other words: no. Not even close.

And who can blame them?

Crow-Armstrong’s Meteoric Rise

Pete Crow-Armstrong, or PCA as he’s often called, has been electric for the Cubs in 2025. He’s no longer just a defensive wizard in center field — he’s become a legitimate MVP contender, showcasing not only elite range and base-running, but also surprising power at the plate.

He started the All-Star Game. He leads the league in several advanced defensive metrics. And most impressively, he’s hitting over .300 with an OPS north of .900. Crow-Armstrong isn’t just a good prospect anymore — he’s a franchise cornerstone.

Alonso: A Proven Star with a Shorter Shelf Life

By contrast, Pete Alonso, while still a feared power hitter, is a player whose value is more finite. As of the 2023 deadline, Alonso had one more year of team control, making him less appealing to rebuilding clubs looking for long-term impact. While his career totals — multiple 40+ home run seasons, All-Star selections, and a sterling reputation in the clubhouse — make him one of the league’s best sluggers, his positional limitations and approaching free agency reduce his trade market.

To the Cubs, the value of years of team control with a blossoming two-way star like Crow-Armstrong far outweighed the short-term offensive boost that Alonso could provide — especially for a team that wasn’t quite in contention in 2023.

The Ultimate “What If” for Mets Fans

It’s hard for Mets fans to not wonder what could have been. If Crow-Armstrong were still in New York, the Mets outfield could have boasted an elite trio of Crow-Armstrong, Brandon Nimmo, and potentially Juan Soto, depending on how offseason plans develop.

That’s the kind of outfield you build a dynasty around.

Instead, the Mets are still trying to sort out their identity — with Alonso’s future still unclear, and the fanbase haunted by what’s shaping up to be one of the worst trades in franchise history.

“Having more than half a decade of a budding superstar is far more valuable than potentially a couple of years of a slugging first baseman,” one Mets insider put it bluntly.

The Cubs: Big Winners by Standing Pat

Chicago’s front office deserves credit for sticking to their long-term vision. Sure, Alonso would’ve packed Wrigley Field and brought a jolt to the middle of the lineup, but at what cost? Crow-Armstrong has become the face of the Cubs’ future, and turning him into a short-term rental would’ve been a disaster.

Not only that — keeping PCA allowed the Cubs to also acquire Michael Busch from the Dodgers. Busch, younger than Alonso and under longer team control, has quietly become one of the most underrated players in the league, matching Alonso’s production this season at a fraction of the price.

It’s the kind of forward-thinking team-building that’s slowly turning the Cubs back into contenders.

Looking Forward: Alonso’s Uncertain Future

Now that the Mets’ failed bid to reacquire Crow-Armstrong is public, attention turns to Pete Alonso’s future with the franchise.

Will the Mets attempt to extend him this offseason? Will he test free agency and leave the team entirely? Or will the team entertain trade offers again if they slide out of playoff contention?

One thing is certain: the relationship between Alonso and the Mets has been complicated ever since that 2023 deadline. And with fans increasingly looking toward a youth movement and a long-term rebuild, Alonso’s days in Queens could be numbered.

Final Thought: A Trade That Never Happened — But Still Matters

Sometimes the trades you don’t make are just as impactful as the ones you do. For the Mets, their desperate attempt to undo the Crow-Armstrong mistake by offering Alonso will forever be a footnote in the franchise’s complicated timeline.

For the Cubs, rejecting the offer was a masterstroke, preserving a generational talent and ensuring their future remains bright — and homegrown.

In the end, it was Pete for Pete — and only one team got it right.