The Cubs made an effort to lock up heart fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong throughout Spring Coaching. On the time, an MLB.com report indicated that Chicago made a suggestion that would have maxed out round $75MM had all the choice years been exercised — although the precise assure would have checked in decrease than that.
Final week, Jon Heyman of The New York Submit reported that the Cubs provided a assure within the $60-70MM vary earlier than the season began. Crow-Armstrong clearly wasn’t persuaded by that, and his asking worth has absolutely solely elevated after a monster begin to the 12 months. Most extensions are concentrated throughout Spring Coaching or inside the opening two to a few weeks of the common season. Gamers usually desire to desk discussions to keep away from potential distractions throughout the summer time months.
Heyman nonetheless wrote final week that the Cubs have been making “in-season overtures” to Crow-Armstrong’s camp. He indicated the group was keen to up its provide from the spring. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer predictably didn’t touch upon the group’s new worth vary however instructed Patrick Mooney of The Athletic on Tuesday that the entrance workplace is keen to maintain negotiations going. “Not speaking throughout the season, to me, that’s a player-focused factor,” Hoyer instructed Mooney. “I’m not enjoying. I’ve received time to barter if they need.”
Whereas Hoyer didn’t go into element in regards to the present state of conversations, he spoke in regards to the reporting from April. Hoyer said that the perimeters “hadn’t talked in a pair weeks when (phrase of the provide) leaked out” and added that “the quantity that got here out about that wasn’t proper.” MLB.com had initially reported that the provide was within the $75MM vary earlier than correcting that that quantity represented the approximate most worth, together with what was presumably not less than one membership choice 12 months.
Crow-Armstrong is enjoying at a stage that’d put him within the MVP dialog if he retains it up all 12 months. He took a .280/.310/.565 slash line throughout 229 plate appearances into tonight’s recreation. He has swiped 14 bases in 17 makes an attempt whereas already establishing a brand new profession excessive with 14 house runs. He’s added 13 doubles and three triples and is tied for fourth in MLB (behind Aaron Decide, Shohei Ohtani and teammate Seiya Suzuki) with 30 extra-base hits.
That might play at any place. It’s significantly outstanding from a participant whose major asset is his glove. Crow-Armstrong has been considered as an elite defensive heart fielder all through his skilled profession. His early MLB outcomes have supported that analysis. The 23-year-old leads all outfielders with 9 Outs Above Common, in line with Statcast. He tied for sixth by that metric throughout his 2024 rookie marketing campaign.
There’s in all probability nonetheless some trepidation about Crow-Armstrong’s offensive method. He’s among the many most aggressive hitters in MLB. He has walked in fewer than 4% of his plate appearances. This season’s success has come regardless of a middling .310 on-base proportion. The method was actually a problem throughout his debut marketing campaign, as he hit .237/.286/.384 final 12 months.
Crow-Armstrong entered this season with 170 days of main league service, placing him two days shy of 1 full service 12 months. He’s a lock to qualify for early arbitration as a Tremendous Two participant on the finish of the ’26 season. He won’t attain free company for one more 5 years after this one, nevertheless. If the perimeters have been to barter a deal that goes into impact subsequent 12 months, he’d be within the 1-2 12 months service class.
As Entrance Workplace subscribers can see with MLBTR’s Contract Tracker, Jackson Merrill established a brand new commonplace for gamers in that bracket with this spring’s $135MM deal. Merrill in all probability took one thing of a hometown low cost, however he additionally had the next established offensive baseline than Crow-Armstrong does. Merrill hit 24 homers with a .292/.326/.500 slash over a full season as a 21-year-old rookie. He’s additionally a plus heart fielder, albeit not fairly the caliber of defender that Crow-Armstrong is. Merrill is an aggressive hitter in his personal proper, however he’s had sustained offensive success primarily from the second he reached the massive leagues.
Although Crow-Armstrong might have a comparable and even barely larger ceiling, he’s not as established. Throughout Spring Coaching, the Cubs seemingly valued him within the subsequent tier of younger hitters. A suggestion within the $60-70MM vary would have aligned with current offers for Lawrence Butler and Ezequiel Tovar. Crow-Armstrong has clearly performed himself above that group inside the previous couple months, however there’s a broad vary between them and Merrill.
