Cubs and Pete Crow-Armstrong Finalizing Long-Term Contract Extension After Breakout Season

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly closing in on a long-term contract extension with All-Star outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. While the specific terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, Crow-Armstrong is set to make a substantial leap in earnings from his current salary of $771,000 in 2025 as the new agreement takes effect.

At just 23 years old, Crow-Armstrong is coming off a remarkable second full season in Major League Baseball, where he showcased his skills with a .247 batting average, .287 on-base percentage, and .482 slugging percentage. His impressive performance included 31 home runs, 35 stolen bases, and 95 runs batted in, all of which contributed to his selection for the All-Star Game and earned him his first Gold Glove award for his outstanding defense in center field.

His contributions were pivotal in leading the Cubs to their first playoff appearance since 2020 as a wild-card team, where they triumphed over the San Diego Padres in the wild-card round before being eliminated by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series. Crow-Armstrong’s breakout season also earned him a spot on the USA roster for the World Baseball Classic.

This extension for Crow-Armstrong is part of a busy offseason for the Cubs, who recently allowed All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker to depart in free agency. However, they bolstered their lineup by signing All-Star infielder Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract. Additionally, the Cubs have strengthened their bullpen with the acquisitions of Phil Maton, Jacob Webb, Hoby Milner, and Hunter Harvey, while also trading for starter Edward Cabrera.

With these moves, Chicago aims to be a strong contender for a playoff spot in 2025, setting its sights on unseating the Brewers from the top of the NL Central.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.