The next Chicago Cubs' contract extension may not be for Kyle Tucker

As we read the tea leaves on the potential of a contract extension between the Chicago Cubs and Kyle Tucker, the Cubs may quietly be trying to sign a different member of their starting outfield to a new deal.

Mark Feinsand of MLB dot com reports that the Cubs recently approached starting center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong with an extension offer, but the two sides were unable to come to terms on a deal.

Given the recent rash of extensions between teams and their pre-arbitration players, we've suggested that the Cubs look to do the same with Crow-Armstrong. By our estimation, we figured an 8-year deal worth $80MM may have been a good starting point for each side.

Crow-Armstrong doesn't reach free agency until after the 2030 season, so the assumption is that the Cubs would be looking to create cost certainty until then. While Feinsand did not provide the amount years, it would be safe to assume it was a five-year offer at the core. Add in an option year or two, and Crow-Armstrong was likely looking at an AAV of around $10MM for the duration of the deal.

Given the trend of the Cubs' organization, it may be a popular reaction to suggest that the team low-balled their offer to Crow-Armstrong. That wouldn't be telling the full story as Crow-Armstrong has yet to experience consistent offensive success at the Major League level. If your the Cubs, given that fact, you don't want to start at the ceiling of potential offers for their young outfielder.

Likewise, if you are Crow-Armstrong, it makes sense why you would reject an offer from the Cubs that maxed out at $75MM. The moment that his offensive profile clicks at the Major League level, Crow-Armstrong would be worth far more than $10MM.

The good news is that the Cubs have started the negotiations with Crow-Armstrong and there is plenty of time for the two sides to reach a deal. By this time next year, it wouldn't be a shock if there was a new deal in place.

And, while we're here, we can't give a Cubs' contract update without referencing Kyle Tucker. General strokes, Tucker not factored into the conversation, the Cubs should want to sign Crow-Armstrong to an extension. But the Tucker element can't be ignored either. The more cost certainty the Cubs can have beyond the 2026 season (we won't talk about the potential work stoppage), the more likely they will know the exact framework of a potential extension with Tucker. Having Crow-Armstrong locked up, arguably their most valuable long-term player outside of Tucker, would be a large piece of that puzzle.