According to Chicago Cubs insider Bruce Levine the team actually approached Pete Crow-Armstrong with a contract extension worth $90 million at the start of the 2025 season. Ultimately, the talented center fielder and his representatives turned down the offer, but that new figure certainly represents a fresh perspective into the negotiations that occurred between the two sides.
There's no guarantee that Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs will eventually agree on an extension, but any feelings that the organization low-balled the outfielder should be thrown out the window. Originally, MLB.com's Mark Feindsand reported that the Cubs had only offered an extension worth up to $75 million. That number was significantly lower than the handful of contract extensions signed by other young outfielders in the past five years or so and raised some eyebrows at the time.
However, if the dollar amount was closer to $100 million, then that should indicate that the Cubs were making a more realistic offer to help keep Crow-Armstrong longterm in Chicago.
Going into his second full season in the major leagues, Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs will revisit a brief negotiation that had the 23-year-old player pushing aside a $90 million contract proposal in the spring, according to MLB sources.
Originally reported as a $75 million offer in April by MLB.com, Crow-Armstrong and his representatives believed that his future ceiling as a top player would eventually net him a more lucrative deal as the season and his career moved forward.
Here are some recent contract extensions that Crow-Armstrong will certainly point to as he and the Cubs go back to the negotiating table this offseason.
2019: Ronald Acuña Jr. - 8 years, $100 million
2023: Corbin Carroll - 8 years, $111 million
2025: Jackson Merrill - 9 years, $135 million
Crow-Armstrong definitely raised his value after winning a gold glove in 2025 and recording the first 30/30 season for the Cubs since the mid-90s. The 23-year-old led the Cubs with a 5.4 fWAR this past year and will now have his eyes set on negotiating a huge extension with the Cubs.
Following the 2026 season, Crow-Armstrong will become arbitration eligible for the first time. The left-handed hitting center field is currently set to become a free agent in 2031.
Cubs first attempt at extending Pete Crow-Armstrong
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.
