The Cubs made a serious attempt to sign center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to a long-term extension during Spring Training. According to earlier reports from MLB.com, the offer could’ve reached up to $75 million with all options exercised, though the guaranteed portion was lower. More recently, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported the proposed guarantee fell between $60 million and $70 million.
Crow-Armstrong declined that deal, and with his stellar performance to start the season, his market value has likely grown. While most contract extensions are finalized in the spring or very early in the season, Heyman reported last week that the Cubs have remained engaged, continuing discussions into the regular season with an increased offer.
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer didn’t confirm the latest figures but said talks could remain ongoing. “I’ve got time to negotiate if they want,” Hoyer told The Athletic, emphasizing that whether talks continue during the season depends on the player’s preference. Hoyer also disputed the accuracy of the leaked spring training offer, noting that the sides hadn’t spoken for weeks when the initial number surfaced.
Crow-Armstrong’s production in 2025 has been eye-catching. He’s batting .280 with a .310 on-base percentage and a .565 slugging percentage through 229 plate appearances. He has already notched career highs in home runs (14), doubles (13), and triples (3), while stealing 14 bases and totaling 30 extra-base hits tied for fourth in MLB behind stars like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani.
While his elite defense in center field has always been a hallmark leading all MLB outfielders with nine Outs Above Average it’s his offensive surge that has elevated his profile. Still, there are concerns about his aggressive plate approach, as he’s walked in fewer than 4% of his plate appearances and posted only a .310 OBP this season.
Crow-Armstrong is still under team control for the next five years and won’t hit free agency until after the 2029 season. He’s also on track to qualify for Super Two arbitration eligibility after 2026. His current service time sits just under a full year.
When compared to recent contracts, Crow-Armstrong’s potential deal sits somewhere between the $60–70 million range seen for players like Ezequiel Tovar and Lawrence Butler, and the $135 million deal Jackson Merrill signed this spring. While Merrill entered negotiations with more offensive consistency, Crow-Armstrong’s defensive upside and breakout start could push his value closer to that upper tier if he maintains this level of play.
