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  "path": "/cubs/2026/03/24/pete-crow-armstrong-cubs-contract-extension",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-24T14:24:43.323Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>MESA, Ariz. — Pete Crow-Armstrong celebrates his 24th birthday Wednesday. The icing on his cake will be knowing he’s on the verge of signing a long-term contract extension that will make him a Cub into his 30s.</p><p>A Gold Glove center fielder with elite speed who hit 31 homers and stole 35 bases for the Cubs in 2025, Crow-Armstrong is close to an agreement with the team that will be announced Thursday at Wrigley Field, a source said.</p><p>The Cubs would buy out Crow-Armstrong’s arbitration years and get cost certainty with the deal while giving financial security to the outfielder, who was scheduled to make $890,000 this season. Crow-Armstrong would have been eligible for arbitration in 2027 and free agency in 2031. The Cubs and Crow-Armstrong’s representatives were known to be discussing an extension on and off for about a year.</p><p>Terms of what Crow-Armstrong’s deal is expected to be were not immediately known. USA Today reported in excess of $100 million for at least six years. The Padres signed 22-year-old center fielder Jackson Merrill, similar to Crow-Armstrong in service time, to a nine-year, $135 million deal.</p><p>With face-of-the-franchise swagger and energy last season, Crow-Armstrong added 37 doubles and four triples to his home run total and became the fastest player to reach 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in a season. He was the first 30/30 Cub since Sammy Sosa in 1995. But while establishing himself as the best defensive center fielder in baseball, he faded offensively, producing a .634 OPS following the All-Star break after posting an .847 OPS that earned him an All-Star Game appearance and early MVP consideration.</p><p>A free swinger with a propensity to chase, Crow-Armstrong struck out 155 times while drawing just 29 walks. But in the end, he produced a 6.0 WAR, per Baseball Reference, second on the Cubs to Nico Hoerner (6.2). He led all outfielders with 24 Outs Above Average and finished ninth in MVP voting.</p><p>Crow-Armstrong was 3-for-10 in the Wild Card Series against the Padres and 2-for-19 in the NLDS against the Brewers with no extra base hits and one stolen base in the postseason. He was 2-for-18 in seven games in spring training, which concludes Tuesday, and hit two homers in one game for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.</p><p>With designs on a deep postseason run, the Cubs <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/01/10/cubs-alex-bregman-agree-to-5-year-175-million-deal\" >signed free agent Alex Bregman to a $175 million deal</a> in the offseason and <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/01/07/chicago-cubs-in-serious-talks-with-miamimarlins-to-acquire-rhp-edward-cabrera-mlb-trade\" >traded for Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera</a>. Their projected luxury tax payroll for 2025, per Spotrac, was $224,462,380 at Crow-Armstrong’s current salary, ranking them 11th among major league teams.</p><p>The 19th overall draft pick by the Mets out of high school in the 2020 draft, Crow-Armstrong was acquired by the Cubs in a trade for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams a year later. The outfielder broke in with the Cubs in 2023, playing 13 games, and in his first full season in 2024 batted .237/.286/.384 with 10 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 123 games.<br></p>",
  "title": "Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs close to agreement on long-term contract extension: source",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-24T14:25:33.558Z"
}