4 years after trade, Javier Báez and Pete Crow-Armstrong share CF as All-Star starters
Nearly four years ago, Báez and Crow-Armstrong were traded for each other at the 2021 trade deadline. Now, they're the starting center fielders for the American League and National League in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game.
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It's a full-circle moment for both players.
"I was a Cubs fan growing up," Crow-Armstrong said, "and he was a very important part of my youth baseball life once he burst onto the scene. It was rewarding getting to chat with him in Detroit, just having a little conversation."
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Detroit Tigers outfielder Javier Báez (28) throws towards first base against Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, June 6, 2025.
Here's how the first meeting happened: Crow-Armstrong hit a single in the ninth inning, but he was out on a force play at second base for the second out of the inning. When the Cubs challenged, Crow-Armstrong stood next to Báez throughout the replay review.
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They talked near second base.
Before then, they hadn't communicated at all.
"I was getting to meet him," Báez said.
In Chicago, Crow-Armstrong is the best athlete to wear a Cubs uniform since Báez.
Báez — nicknamed "El Mago," which is Spanish for "The Magician" — played for the Cubs from 2014-21 before getting traded to the postseason-hopeful New York Mets in July 2021, with Crow-Armstrong going to the rebuilding Cubs. He spent the remainder of 2021 with the Mets, then signed a six-year $140 million contract with the Tigers. Báez has revived his career in 2025, hitting .275 with 10 home runs and a .752 OPS in 79 games.
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Meanwhile, Crow-Armstrong made his MLB debut in 2023 and emerged as an All-Star for the first time in 2025, hitting .265 with 25 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 95 games.
TRUIST PARK: Tigers' Tarik Skubal at 2025 All-Star Game: 'Focus is on winning a championship'
Báez, 32, and Crow-Armstrong, 23, made their debuts in different eras of Cubs baseball, but they're similar in the way they play the game: flashy defense, fearlessness on the bases and a free-swinging approach at the plate.
"He told me he looked up to me," Báez said. "That's something that makes me happy. The way he plays is really, really close to what I do. I like his style of play."
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Once upon a time, Crow-Armstrong dreamed of playing on the same field as Báez, but he never would've believed they'd share the same position in the All-Star Game.
That's because Báez never played center field in his 12-year MLB career — until the 2025 season.
"I appreciate what he's done defensively as a shortstop," Crow-Armstrong said, "and now that I can kind of relate that to myself, considering the same position, that's even cooler. He was already one of the best defenders out there, without a doubt."
The Tigers moved Báez to center field from late April through late May to accommodate for the injuries in spring training to outfielders Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling and Wenceel Pérez. It was Báez's first time playing center field since his childhood.
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Báez made his first appearance in center field April 6 against the Chicago White Sox, then he made his first start in center field April 21 against the San Diego Padres. He is worth plus-1 defensive runs saved in 259⅔ innings in center field.
"He looks natural," Crow-Armstrong said. "That's the best way I can describe it."
For All-Star voting, the fans determined the AL starters: Báez in center field, Riley Greene (Tigers) in left field and Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) in right field. The fans did the same for the NL starters: Crow-Armstrong in center field, Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta Braves) in left field and Kyle Tucker (Cubs) in right field.
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It marked Báez's third All-Star bid.
He joined Pete Rose, Harmon Killebrew and Albert Pujols as the only players in MLB history to start the All-Star Game at three different positions: second base in 2018, shortstop in 2019 and center field in 2025.
Getting back to the All-Star Game for the first time in six years serves as a reminder of Báez's career resurgence. He had been a below-average hitter in each of the past three seasons with the Tigers, from 2022-24.
In 2025, the veteran Báez is performing like a player reborn after undergoing right hip surgery. He is doing it while competing at multiple positions, including center field.
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"That was a question I had for myself," Báez said, "if I was going to come back, if my body was going to respond, if I was going to have success in the regular season. I struggled, and I worked for it. Everything is paying off. I'm feeling good right now."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at Tigers125.PictorialBook.com.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Javier Báez, Pete Crow-Armstrong share center field in All-Star Game
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