CHICAGO (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong has agreed to a $115 million, six-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, making the All-Star center fielder one of the team’s core players, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because the agreement has not yet been announced.
advertise
The contract starts in 2027. As the escalator moves forward, the value could increase to as much as $133 million, and the contract also includes a transfer bonus if Crowe-Armstrong is traded. For a player who had five years of financial control remaining when he signed, it was the largest contract ever with no club option.
Crow-Armstrong, who turns 24 on Wednesday, is about to have a breakthrough performance. He hit .247 with home runs, 95 RBIs and 35 steals last season, helping the Cubs win the NL wild card and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Crowe-Armstrong also took up a ton of ground in the outfield on one of the best defensive teams in baseball. The Southern California native won his first Gold Glove last year.
Crowe-Armstrong was selected by the New York Mets in the first round of the 2020 amateur draft. In July 2021, he was traded to the Cubs in the Javier Baez trade.
advertise
He made his major league debut in 2023, going 0-for-14 in 13 games. He had a difficult June in his second season before finding form. He batted .289 with seven homers and 30 RBIs in his final 57 games in 2024.
Crowe-Armstrong got off to a fast start last year and heard chants of “MVP!” At Wrigley Field, he hit 21 home runs and 61 RBIs in his first 80 games, batting .272. But he batted just .192 in the final 35 games of the regular season, striking out 33 times.
He made his first postseason appearance, hitting .185 (5-for-27) in eight games, helping the Cubs advance to the second round before being eliminated by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series.
“I think this is a season that you would expect from Pitt. This is Pitt,” head coach Craig Counsell said at the winter meetings in December. “It’s like we saw some unbelievable things. We saw some plays from him with outs at the plate. I thought his defense has been really consistent and good all season long.
advertise
“I think the real goal is just that — keep getting better… That’s what I want from Pete. As long as that pursuit never goes away and you keep that pursuit, he’s going to get to better places and great places.”
Crow-Armstrong prepares for the season, including playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He hit .100 (2-for-20) in eight spring training games with the Cubs.
___
Associated Press MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
