TODAY: The Cubs and Crow-Armstrong have ceased negotiations for now, the Athletic’s Patrick Mooney writes. As per Mooney’s framing, the talks appeared considerably exploratory in nature, and maybe extra to “lay some groundwork for the long run” moderately than to finish an extension instantly. There was additionally some battle with Feinsand’s report when it comes to the $75MM ceiling of the attainable extension, as Mooney writes that “group and league sources characterised the define of that report…as inaccurate.”
APRIL 12: The Cubs not too long ago reached out to heart fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong’s camp with an extension supply, in line with a report from MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Feinsand relays that the deal would’ve maxed out within the $75MM vary if all choice years concerned within the deal had been exercised, although it will not have reached that determine when it comes to whole assure. The precise construction of the supply shouldn’t be recognized and, whereas Feinsand writes that the edges didn’t work out a deal, it’s unclear whether or not talks between the 2 sides have ended in the interim or may proceed going ahead.
That Chicago would have curiosity in extending Crow-Armstrong’s keep in Chicago past his years of management is hardly shocking. The longtime prime prospect came to visit from the Mets within the Javier Baez commerce on the 2021 commerce deadline, and he flew via the minor leagues after arriving in Chicago to make his massive league debut late within the 2023 season. Crow-Armstrong’s offense has not been something particular throughout his time within the majors to this point, with a 79 wRC+ general and an 87 wRC+ in 123 video games final 12 months, however he’s greater than made up for that lackluster efficiency on the plate with phenomenal work within the area and on the bases. Crow-Armstrong went a wonderful 27-for-30 on the basepaths final 12 months, together with 22 straight steals with out being caught.
Within the area, in the meantime, his +14 Outs Above Common and +11 Defensive Runs Saved had been the fifth- and seventh-best figures amongst all outfielders, whereas his +16 Fielding Run Worth was surpassed amongst fielders in any respect positions by solely Giants catcher Patrick Bailey. These defensive accolades develop into much more spectacular when contemplating that Crow-Armstrong performed simply 112 video games in heart area, that means he put up these enormous numbers regardless of getting lower than three-quarters of a full season’s value of reps. Total, that defensive and baserunning skill was good for two.7 fWAR final 12 months regardless of him being 13% under league common as a hitter.
The truth that Crow-Armstrong has flashed a three-win ground when prorated out over a full season needs to be attractive to the Cubs even earlier than contemplating his stable work on offense within the second half final 12 months, when he slashed .260/.309/.442 with a 108 wRC+ and 9 homers over the season’s closing three months. If the 23-year-old had been ever in a position to attain that kind of offensive manufacturing on a constant foundation, he’d seemingly blossom into the kind of perennial All-Star Chicago is unquestionably hoping for. That each one makes making an attempt to increase Crow-Armstrong, as many different golf equipment have achieved with children like Lawrence Butler and Ezequiel Tovar, a wise objective for the group.
With that being mentioned, providing Crow-Armstrong a hefty contract beneath the expectation that he’ll fulfill that offensive ceiling could be very dangerous. He actually wouldn’t be the primary extraordinarily proficient hitter with five-tool potential to fail to achieve that ceiling within the massive leagues, and Billy Hamilton’s profession serves as a reminder of the truth that a participant can’t look forward to finding success purely off elite defensive and baserunning even when they play a place as defensively necessary as heart area. That absolutely contributed to a latest ballot of MLBTR readers winding up cut up almost down the center on whether or not or not the Cubs ought to pursue an extension with the teen, with slightly below 52% of respondents voting no.
Chicago’s answer for the broad hole between Crow-Armstrong’s present offensive talents and his demonstrated potential appears to have been to err on the aspect of warning. An extension that ensures Crow-Armstrong considerably lower than $75MM would fall under the usual set by many different latest early-career extensions together with the aforementioned Butler and Tovar offers in addition to offers signed by gamers like Jackson Chourio and Kristian Campbell simply after or earlier than their massive league debuts. It’s onerous to correctly consider the deal the Cubs supplied Crow-Armstrong with out realizing extra in regards to the construction; in any case, even the deal between Detroit and infielder Colt Keith maxes out in an identical vary ($82MM) because the one reported for Crow-Armstrong regardless of guaranteeing him simply $28.6425MM.
On condition that even mediocre hitters with the kind of elite protection that Crow-Armstrong possesses like Harrison Bader and Kevin Kiermaier have been paid handsomely in free company with one-year offers that always fall into the $10MM vary, it is sensible that Crow-Armstrong would seemingly require a more healthy assure than the one Keith obtained from the Tigers in an effort to signal on the dotted line. Evidently, the supply the Cubs offered his camp with didn’t go muster, although with the teen not presently set to hit free company till after the 2030 season there’s nonetheless loads of time for the 2 sides to work out a deal that extends his keep in Chicago previous these preliminary years of group management.
