The Contract Extension That Could Make Pete Crow-Armstrong a Cub for Life
Kind of lost in this week’s war of words between Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dodgers fans is the fact that the NL gold-glove winning center fielder confirmed that he has been having extension talks with the Cubs.
It may not be his top priority, but at the very least the 23-year-old has vehemently expressed how much he wants to remain with the Cubs, how much he loves the fans and the city of Chicago. He was asked on Foul Territory this week whether or not he and the Cubs have had extension talks and Crow-Armstrong said the following.
“Yes, there will be talks. There have been talks, but at the same time we’re not in really any rush to do anything. I’d like to keep it that way just because I’m going to go out and play regardless and enjoy myself while I do.There’s bigger fish to fry right now than getting me paid.”
The Cubs reportedly approached the center fielder with a contract extension prior to the 2025 season. At first, MLB.com reported that the deal had an estimated value of up to $75 million, but then Chicago baseball insider Bruce Levine reported this past winter that the dollar amount was actually in the $90 million range.
In 2025, Crow-Armstrong led the Cubs with a 5.4 fWAR, won a gold glove in center field and had the franchise’s first 30/30 season since the mid-90s. So, what would a contract extension look like for Crow-Armstrong to keep him a Cub for life?
FanSided’s MLB insider Robert Murray spoke to an agent, who pointed to a pair of mega contract extensions that have been signed in recent years that could be in Crow-Armstrong’s ballpark.
Via FanSided.
There are multiple ways that Crow-Armstrong can go about a potential extension. If he wants to be with the Cubs for the remainder of his career, one rival agent opined he could go for contracts similar to Bobby Witt Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. or Julio Rodriguez.
In Aug. 2022, the Seattle Mariners and Julio Rodriguez agreed to a huge contract extension during the outfielder’s rookie year. On the surface it was reported as a deal that could be worth up to $470 million, but the contract structure is far more complicated.
Julio Rodriguez Contract Details
-$105 million from 2023-29 (8 year, $120 million base extension includes $15 million signing bonus in 2022)
-After 2028, Mariners can extend deal 8 or 10 years based on MVP finishes
-If Mariners decline to extend after 2028, Rodriguez has a 5-year player option worth $90 million – $125 million
-Rodriguez guaranteed $210 million over 12 years
Contract Value Based on MVP Voting After 2028
$240 million over eight years with two or three top ten finishes
$260 million over eight years with four top ten finishes
$280 million over eight years if he wins an MVP and finishes in the top five once more or finishes in the top five of MVP balloting on three occasions
$350 million over 10 years if he wins two MVP awards or finishes among the top five in balloting on four occasions
In the event Rodriguez hits that highest threshold and the Mariners exercise the option, the contract would max out at 18 years and $470 million in total value.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals and Bobby Witt Jr. agreed to an 11-year, $288.5 million extension, entering the shortstop’s third year in the majors. His deal included opt-outs after the 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033 seasons. If Witt declines to opt out then, the Royals would receive a team option worth $89 million for three more years, which would bring the max value of the contract to $377 million over 14 years.
Crow-Armstrong is heading into his second full season with the Cubs in 2026 as a 23-year-old. He was called up at the end of 2023, but barely played and then appeared in 123 games as a rookie in 2024.
Interestingly enough, Crow-Armstrong and Witt Jr. put up similar fWAR totals in their first two years in MLB.
Bobby Witt Jr. Year 1
150 games, 20 HR, 30 SB, 98 wRC+, 2.3 fWAR
Year 2
158 games, 30 HR, 49 SB, 116 wRC+, 5.9 fWAR
Pete Crow-Armstrong Year 1
123 games, 10 HR, 27 SB, 86 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR
Year 2
157 games, 31 HR, 35 SB, 109 wRC+, 5.4 fWAR
Maybe there’s combo of the Rodriguez extension that includes future options based on incentives to drive down the initial average annual value because the guaranteed base for Rodriguez is 12 years for $210 million. But maybe Crow-Armstrong looks at Witt Jr.’s AAV and wants a bump up. That is of course if Crow-Armstrong wants a mega extension and not a shorter one that would still give him the ability to test free agency in his 30s.
But if we’re talking about a contract extension that would keep Crow-Armstrong a Cub for life, maybe this structure could work.
Cubs offer 11-year, $240 million contract extension. (2026-36)
-$130 million guaranteed through 2032 (incentives increase annual value)
So, that initial seven-year, $130 million extension would buy out his arbitration years and two free agent years, 2031 and 2032, respectively. Then, you can include escalators for the next four years of the contract where at the minimum Crow-Armstrong is in the $30 million range, incentivizing him to stay with the Cubs and not go into free agency. In turn, the Cubs could add a couple different team options to secure Crow-Armstrong beyond the four years after the initial guaranteed extension expires. Add in three option years and make the total max value near $400 million over 14 or 15 years.
Regardless of whether an extension is worked out now or not, it is great to have Pete Crow-Armstrong on the Chicago Cubs. He’s exactly the type of competitor you want on your team and the center fielder expressed his passion for winning perfectly in Chicago Magazine.
“I saw what bringing playoff baseball back to the city meant,” he says. “That’s an easy, immovable goal. The fuck are you playing for if you’re not trying to play in the playoffs and win the World Series? There’s more to life than baseball, but maybe not for me right now. This shit is my life.”