Cubs All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong Poised for Potential $125M Extension

The young outfielder could be the long-term face of the franchise in Chicago.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 9:39pm

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The Chicago Cubs are reportedly considering a seven-year, $125 million contract extension for their rising star outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 24-year-old All-Star and Gold Glove winner is coming off a breakout 2026 season where he hit .247 with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs. While extension talks may not have a sense of urgency yet, the Cubs are expected to try and lock up their young centerfielder long-term as he could be the anchor of their outfield for years to come.

Why it matters

Crow-Armstrong has quickly emerged as one of the top young talents in baseball, and securing him to a long-term deal would be a major coup for the Cubs as they look to build a contender around their homegrown stars. At just 24 years old, he has the potential to be the face of the franchise for the next decade.

The details

According to reports, the proposed extension would buy out two or three of Crow-Armstrong's free agency years, allowing him to potentially hit the open market again before he reaches his prime. The deal would fall somewhere between the recent extensions signed by Corbin Carroll (8 years, $111 million) and Jackson Merrill (9 years, $135 million), as Crow-Armstrong has more MLB experience than those players but also some question marks around his bat.

  • In the 2026 season, Crow-Armstrong made his first All-Star team and won a Gold Glove award.
  • Crow-Armstrong is currently under contract with the Cubs through the 2027 season.

The players

Pete Crow-Armstrong

A 24-year-old outfielder for the Chicago Cubs who is coming off a breakout 2026 season, making his first All-Star team and winning a Gold Glove.

Chris Landers

A writer for Fansided who predicts the Cubs will offer Crow-Armstrong a seven-year, $125 million extension.

Darragh McDonald

An MLB writer for Trade Rumors who reports that Crow-Armstrong has stated he wants an extension, but the urgency is not there yet.

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What they’re saying

“Rodriguez was a more proven player (and a better prospect) when he signed his extension. Corbin Carroll signed an eight-year, $111 million extension with Arizona before the 2023 season, but he'd played just 32 MLB games at that point. Jackson Merrill had played just one full season before the Padres locked him up for nine years and $135 million (with a team option for year 10 that would bring it north of $150 million). PCA, by contrast, has played 280 games over the last two years. Something in between those two numbers seems right: Crow-Armstrong's defense gives him a high floor, but he also wasn't the prospect that Carroll was and comes with some question marks about his bat. The above deal buys out two or three free agency years while still allowing him to hit the market before he's too old to cash in. And unlike Kurtz, he has enough uncertainty in his game that he might be more willing to consider signing now rather than playing the waiting game.”

— Chris Landers, Writer (Fansided)

“Although, Landers did give it a six out of ten chance PCA receives this extension. And according to MLB Trade Rumors' Darragh McDonald, PCA himself stated an extension is wanted, but the urgency isn't there.”

— Darragh McDonald, Writer (MLB Trade Rumors)

What’s next

The Cubs and Crow-Armstrong are expected to continue discussing a potential long-term extension, though the timing of a deal remains uncertain as the young outfielder does not feel an immediate urgency to get something done.

The takeaway

Securing Pete Crow-Armstrong to a lucrative long-term contract would be a major win for the Cubs, as the 24-year-old has quickly emerged as one of the top young talents in baseball. While an extension may not happen immediately, the Cubs will likely make it a priority to lock up their All-Star centerfielder as the face of their franchise for years to come.