"Crow-Armstrong earned 5.4 fWAR during the 2025 campaign, becoming the first Cub with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season since Sammy Sosa. He had a 109 wRC+ and won his first career Gold Glove Award. In other words, he was a walking highlight reel."
"Over the last few years, the baseball world has seen teams extending their young talent far earlier than in the past. Ronald Acuna Jr., Corbin Carroll, and Jackson Merrill were all 22 years old or younger when they signed big extensions. Acuna Jr. got $100 million for eight years, Carroll got $111 million for the same duration, and Merrill signed for $135 million over nine years."
"The Athletics and Braves have been particularly aggressive when it comes to extending talent rather early. Oakland Sacramento/Las Vegas has young stars Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler, and Brent Rooker under contract for the foreseeable future. Atlanta likewise has a significant portion of its roster under control beyond what otherwise would have been rookie deals."
Pete Crow-Armstrong transitioned from top prospect to elite center fielder during the 2025 season, delivering consistent highlight-reel performances on both offense and defense. He accumulated 5.4 fWAR, 30 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and won his first Gold Glove Award, joining Sammy Sosa as the only Cubs to achieve the 30-30 milestone in a single season. His 109 wRC+ demonstrated offensive excellence. Meanwhile, MLB teams increasingly extend young talent early, with players like Ronald Acuña Jr., Corbin Carroll, and Jackson Merrill signing nine-figure deals before age 23. The Athletics and Braves have aggressively locked up young stars long-term. The Cubs have not pursued comparable extensions, potentially facing significant salary implications when Crow-Armstrong reaches free agency.
Read at Cubsinsider
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]