The Chicago Cubs reportedly approached young star Pete Crow-Armstrong with a contract extension worth somewhere in the $75 million range according to MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand.
Crow-Armstrong, 23, made his MLB debut in September of 2023, but didn’t receive an opportunity to play every day until the following year. It was an up and down rookie year for PCA, who struggled on offense through the All-Star break. However, the center fielder turned it around and gave fans a glimpse of how valuable he could be with his overall performance in the final few months in 2024.
Feinsand wrote on Saturday that although the two sides did engage in extension talks, obviously no deal was agreed to.
The Cubs recently approached Pete Crow-Armstrong about an extension worth roughly $75 million, per sources, but the two sides did not work out a deal.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) April 12, 2025
So, you can take this a few different ways. It’s a good sign that the Cubs are being proactive in attempting to lock up one of their young players longterm. Approaching Crow-Armstrong now would likely buy-out those final arbitration years, while betting that the center fielder will live up to his potential.
Feinsand followed up his report with this clarification.
Clarification: Per sources, the deal the Cubs offered Crow-Armstrong could have maxed out ~$75 million if all option years had been exercised, but was not a guaranteed contract in that range.
Earlier this year the Padres agreed to a contract extension with their stud outfielder Jackson Merrill that is worth $135 million over nine years. Merrill, 21, was an All-Star in 2024, won a Silver Slugger Award and was voted to All-MLB’s Second Team as a rookie.
PCA still has two more years of team control after 2025 before he becomes arbitration-eligible.
On the other hand, does Crow-Armstrong think the Cubs low-balled him? At this point that would be a stretch and it’s more likely that the center fielder wants to produce better on the field to help secure a bigger deal.
In 2025, Crow-Armstrong is slashing .200/.273/.250, in 16 games.
