Sources: Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong finalizing extension
Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago Cubs are finalizing a long-term contract extension, sources instructed ESPN, locking up one of many breakout stars of final season after he received a Gold Glove and posted the group’s first 30-30 season in three a long time.
Crow-Armstrong, who turned 24 on Wednesday, cemented himself as the most effective defensive middle fielder in baseball final season and was sturdy offensively in his first full main league season, prompting Chicago to pursue an extension over the winter.
Crow-Armstrong’s ascent to the All-Star Game final 12 months and inclusion on the United States’ World Baseball Classic group this 12 months got here after a season by which he led the majors in Outs Above Average and proved himself lots succesful on the plate too.
His first half was particularly spectacular, as he hit .265/.302/.544 with 25 house runs and 27 stolen bases. While Crow-Armstrong struggled within the second half, with simply six house runs, eight steals and a .216/.262/.372 slash line, his MVP-caliber expertise satisfied the Cubs that the second half was extra anomalous than the primary.
Known as PCA, Crow-Armstrong was a first-round choose by the New York Mets in 2020 out of Los Angeles’ Harvard-Westlake, the most effective highschool program within the nation. Barely a 12 months later, determined to improve on the commerce deadline, the Mets dealt Crow-Armstrong to the Cubs for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams.
Almost instantly, New York regretted the deal. Crow-Armstrong thrived at each ranges of Class A in his first full minor league season in 2023 and made it to the large leagues as a September call-up the subsequent 12 months.
While he confirmed flashes of stardom in 2024, Crow-Armstrong’s energy did not materialize till 2025, when he doubled 37 instances along with his 31 house runs and 35 stolen bases, giving the Cubs their first 30-30 season since Sammy Sosa in 1995.
The questions on Crow-Armstrong’s offense have as a lot to do with plate self-discipline as something. His .287 on-base share was within the backside 10% of certified hitters final season, and he struck out 155 instances in comparison with 29 walks. While others with comparable strikeout-to-walk ratios have carved out lengthy and profitable main league careers — Salvador Perez, Teoscar Hernandez and Baez qualify — enchancment by Crow-Armstrong would go a protracted method to fulfilling his potential. Crow-Armstrong has stated that it has been a singular focus of his this spring.
And the potential is sort of excessive contemplating that even with that on-base share, Crow-Armstrong posted 6.0 Baseball-Reference Wins Above Replacement final 12 months. Much of that’s owed to his superlative glove and arm in middle subject in addition to his high-quality baserunning, with elite dash velocity and top-notch instincts on the basepaths.
Chicago, which final 12 months went 92-70 and misplaced to National League Central champion Milwaukee within the division collection after beating San Diego within the wild card collection, is the favourite to win the division after signing Bregman, buying and selling for right-hander Edward Cabrera and fortifying its bullpen over the winter.
