Pete Crow-Armstrong is already driving his price up after failed Cubs' extension

Pete Crow-Armstrong is already getting the last laugh after rejecting a contract extension with the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs and Crow-Armstrong had been engaged in extension talks since spring training but after a gap remained between the two sides, it was determined that the talks would be tabled for now. There doesn't appear to be any animosity between either side, with Crow-Armstrong having nothing bad to say about the experience.

“The communication’s been really great throughout all levels of this conversation,” Crow-Armstrong told reporters. “They’ve been nothing but really complimentary of who I am and what I mean to the organization. That goes both ways. I’ve appreciated them throughout this whole situation.”

Part of the reason why it didn't make sense for Crow-Armstrong to take the Cubs' offers is because the moment his offense began to click at the Major League level, his value would rise immensely. We've already had proof of that this week.

Over the last seven days, Crow-Armstrong is slashing .375/.375/.958 with an OPS+ over 220 and 3 home runs. It's a sign of the hitter the Cubs saw at the end of the 2024 season, and an important reminder for Crow-Armstrong.

Given his speed and the fact that he is, arguably, already the best defensive center fielder in all of Major League Baseball, the moment Crow-Armstrong walks onto the field, he is already knocking on the door of being a 4-WAR player. Assuming his offense clicks, then we are talking about Crow-Armstrong reaching the superstar level of a 5-WAR player.

Pete Crow-Armstrong's asking price is on the rise

Entering Thursday, Crow-Armstrong is carrying a 1.1 fWAR on the season. The mark has him as the seventh-most valuable player in Major League Baseball this season and ahead of names such as Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Alex Bregman.

It remains likely that the Cubs and Crow-Armstrong will revisit contract talks, and the inclination is that a deal will be reached. However, for now, it's looking like a very smart move by Crow-Armstrong to hold off on signing on the dotted line.