The Chicago Cubs have one of the best, most electrifying players in all of baseball patrolling their outfield.
Strike that. The Cubs have TWO of the most electrifying players in all of baseball patrolling their outfield.
One, of course, is offseason acquisition Kyle Tucker. The other is sophomore star Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Pete Crow-Armstrong Is On Fire
After a slow start to the 2025 campaign, the 23-year-old has been red-hot, scorching all areas of the game and showcasing himself as the type of dynamic field presence he was predicted to be when he was still a minor league top prospect.
As of this writing, Crow-Armstrong is batting .294 with 5 home runs and 17 RBIs. He’s stolen 10 bases, as well. He’s also been playing his usual stellar defense in center field.
All of this points to the obvious fact that the Cubs would very much like to keep the young asset a Cub for a very long time.
Can The Chicago Cubs Extend PCA?
An attempt has already been made to extend “PCA,” but the offer (reportedly worth $75 million) was turned down. Many believe that it will cost Chicago Jackson Merrill-type money to keep the blossoming superstar. Merrill was recently extended by the San Diego Padres with a nine-year, $135 million deal.
MLB sportscaster Chris Rose weighed in on this reality during a recent edition of the “Baseball Today” show.
Per Rose:
“He reportedly turned down an extension that would have maxed out at $75 million. I think he’s got his eyes on a Jackson Merrill-type deal. That’s what I think…
If he puts together a full, solid season, it might not be as good as Merrill offensively, but as good as Merrill was defensively and as well as he runs the bases for a guy his size, he’s not Pete Crow-Armstrong in those areas. So I don’t think PCA has to get to the offensive numbers of Merrill’s because of the plus plus defender and base runner that he is.”
The Rise Of The New Star
Crow-Armstrong’s value has exploded over recent weeks and months after some tough times where many opined that he may merely turn out to be a glove-only major leaguer.
Cubs beat writer Jordan Bastian crunched some numbers and traced the beginning of PCA’s rise to July 27 of last year.
Since that date, Bastian points out, Crow-Armstrong has posted an fWAR of 4.0. That’s behind only Aaron Judge (7.1), Corbin Carroll (5.0), Bobby Witt Jr. (4.9), Shohei Ohtani (4.2), and Franciscor Lindor (4.1)
All of this represents a quick and almost complete turnaround.
Crow-Armstrong credits much of his success to the help he’s received from those around him, both coaches and fellow players.
“I have a lot of help here,” he told The Athletic. “A lot of guys have all been in my ear the last couple weeks. That definitely gives you a little extra bit of conviction to go out there and try to produce when you feel everybody backing you.”
PCA is mature enough to admit that he’s needed maturing, something which has helped considerably with his development.
“It’s just searching for the steady lines instead of this up and down that I’ve experienced a lot,” he added. “At times, I’ve let it get away from me. But it’s being really consistent in my work and knowing what I do well. Just every day, going back out there and looking for that. It’s so easy to have a clear mind in a game where you always got runners on base in front of you.
“It’s just easy to go out there and execute, even when you’re not feeling your best, when you got a lineup of gangsters.”
Whatever the case, PCA is sizzling-hot and, with that success, comes financial success