New Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner extension rumors paint a clear picture

If you're holding out hope for a last-minute contract extension announcement from the Chicago Cubs, you may want to sit down. A new report from Jon Heyman doesn't suggest anything is close with either Pete Crow-Armstrong or Nico Hoerner, although he doesn't close the door on the possibility.

Rumors around a Crow-Armstrong extension date back to early last year, and during that time, the speculative dollar amount has fluctuated wildly. Heyman says the Cubs offered $66 million last spring and are believed to be open to going 'significantly higher' - but there are no signs anything is close.

None of that is especially surprising. PCA's market value 12 months ago is wildly different from where it was mid-season last year and where it is now. His MVP-caliber first half saw his value his astronomical levels as a dynamic 30-30 threat with elite defense and top-graded speed, but an offensive cratering down the stretch brought things back to earth.

The Gold Glove winner still has tremendous long-term value and nobody is questioning that fact. But with another season under his belt, the Cubs may have a better feel for what how PCA projects down the road, especially at the plate. The current lack of such certainty, paired with a looming CBA negotiation, isn't a great spot to make progress on substantive talks.

Good news, though? Extension or not, Crow-Armstrong is under team control through the 2030 season.

Nico Hoerner's true value to the Cubs is hard to quantify

When it comes to Hoerner, though, a sense of urgency is a must. He's set to hit free agency at season's end and if he can replicate his 4.8 fWAR, Gold Glove-winning, batting title runner-up performance from 2025, the former Stanford standout is going to get paid.

His market could quickly blow past the norms for a second baseman, not only because of how good he is at the keystone, but because there are going to be teams that view him as a shortstop - and that's a premium price position in free agency.

As far as the Cubs are concerned, Heyman notes there has 'at least been more noise' with Hoerner than two other impending Chicago free agents, Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ, but there's nothing public suggesting things are close. But Hoerner's value goes far beyond what he does on the field, with Heyman saying he's seen as the 'lifeblood' of the team by some.

Will that be enough for Jed Hoyer to get aggressive and keep his star second baseman in Chicago past 2026? Time will tell - but as things stand right now, there's nothing close to the finish line.