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

More like PAID Crow-Armstrong.

Jordan Campbell

Mar 24, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong against the New York Yankees during spring training at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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.

Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a six-year, $115 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. The deal starts in 2027 and does not include a club option, allowing Crow-Armstrong to hit free agency before his age-31 season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 24, 2026

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.

Jordan Campbell

For nearly 15 years, Jordan has been a workhorse across the FanSided network - including being the inaugural site expert for Cubbies Crib, as well as a stop at Da Windy City as the site expert. In addition to returning to be a Co-Site Expert at Cubbies Crib, Jordan was previously the Site Expert at Bear Goggles On. In the years since, Jordan has joined FanSided's full-time team, serving as a staff writer for the MLB division. Jordan's work can be seen across the MLB division, including a consistent presence on our Cubs, Twins, Astros, and Tigers sites. Since 2010, Jordan has dedicated his craft to providing insightful commentary on all things Chicago sports, and he has enjoyed his venture into all things Major League Baseball.