Pete Crow-Armstrong's contract details reveal just how long Cubs are all in

Pete Crow-Armstrong's contract extension details reveal that the Chicago Cubs not only bought out Crow-Armstrong's first two free-agent years but ensured that he will be at the center of Chicago's contending core through his prime seasons.

Pete Crow-Armstrong's contract extension is an important moment in Cubs history.

Crow-Armstrong's deal also includes escalators for the 2031 and 2032, which could bring the total value of the deal to $133 million.

While the Cubs were ultimately validated with their past decisions to avoid extensions with the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javier Baez, that wasn't a recipe for success. If the Cubs' contention window is going to remain open moving forward, a key element to that sustainability is signing young players to team-friendly extensions before their formative seasons.

Along those lines, Crow-Armstrong's extension is a historic moment for the Cubs. It marks the largest player extension the Cubs have signed since Carlos Zambrano's deal in 2007.

In an ideal world, sure, the Cubs likely would have preferred to have a longer deal in place with Crow-Armstrong. That being said, it's hard to view the contract as anything but a victory for Jed Hoyer and Co.

Even if Crow-Armstrong doesn't fully replicate the MVP production he had during the first half of the 2025 season, just getting close to those marks would position him as one of the most coveted players on the market during his free-agent years. Given how spending has trended in recent offseasons, there's a strong chance that the money the Cubs are spending on Crow-Armstrong will look like a steal by the time his contract is set to expire.

Not factoring in the potential raises, Crow-Armstrong's AAV will sit at $19.16 million for the duration. That currently places him as the third-highest-paid Cubs player on the roster. Alex Bregman is carrying an AAV of $35 million, with Dansby Swanson behind him at $28 million.

Crow-Armstrong's contract takes effect in 2027, meaning his $19.16 million AAV won't count against the team's 2026 payroll books. Crow-Armstrong is making around $900,000 this season. Ahead of Opening Day on Thursday, the Cubs' payroll is sitting just under the luxury tax at $243MM.

With only $1 million as the difference, the expectation remains that the Cubs will enter the luxury tax at some point this season. There's $20 million in space before the Cubs reach the next level of the CBT, leaving them with plenty of room to operate during the season ahead of the MLB trade deadline in August.