CHICAGO – As fast as Pete Crow-Armstrong is on the bases and in center field, the speed at which Cubs fans have embraced the budding star has been just as spectacular. His jersey is easy to spot in the stands in every ballpark he visits and chants of his initials have traveled from Wrigley Field to the Tokyo Dome.
On Friday at the Friendly Confines, Crow-Armstrong showed his commitment to Chicago and reciprocated the overwhelming support in the form of a long-term extension. The six-year deal was officially announced on Opening Day Thursday, followed by a press conference to celebrate the pact the next afternoon.
"I don't think there was ever gonna be a time that wasn't right to get this done," Crow-Armstrong said on Friday. "I wanted to be here."
It was quite the birthday week for Crow-Armstrong, who turned 24 years old on the eve of the season opener on Wednesday. Already under control through 2030, the center fielder’s deal will run through ‘32 and has a base value of $115 million, per sources. The contract is the largest ever (with no club options) for a player with five years of control remaining.
The deal not only gives Crow-Armstrong some security – allowing him to bypass the arbitration process and covering two years of free agency – but locks in one of baseball’s rising stars for the Cubs for the foreseeable future. In ‘25, Crow-Armstrong started in center for the National League All-Stars, picked up his first Gold Glove Award and was in the MVP conversation for a large portion of the season.
Crow-Armstrong made history along the way, becoming the fastest Cubs player to reach 30 homers and 30 steals in a season and ending as the only player in team history to add 30 doubles to a 30-30 campaign. He also set a Statcast-era record for an outfielder with 19 five-star catches (0-25% catch probability).
"It's a gift to watch him play center field, run the bases," Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said on Friday. "He continues to strive every day to get better. When I think about making an investment in a person, it's a really easy investment to make."
The Cubs have high hopes for the ‘26 season, but the deal with Crow-Armstrong shows the team is trying to sustain this period of winning.
Over the offseason, Chicago signed veteran Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million pact. In the wake of Opening Day on Thursday, news broke that the Cubs were also in agreement with second baseman Nico Hoerner on a six-year extension. Shortstop Dansby Swanson is signed through ‘29. The North Siders also have a younger core group in Michael Busch, Cade Horton, Daniel Palencia and Matt Shaw, among others, under control for years to come.
The Cubs returned to the postseason in ‘25 after a 92-win season, falling one win shy of reaching the NL Championship Series. Crow-Armstrong played a key part in Chicago’s identity as a team built around athleticism, speed and power. With his new contract in place, the center fielder can keep his focus on the field as the franchise tries to get back to the World Series.