The Chicago Cubs are currently 45-30 and hold a four-and-a-half game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the National League Central.
It’s Chicago’s best start to a season since 2016 and the emergence of Pete Crow-Armstrong is a major part of that.
Crow-Armstrong, 23, has put together a spectacular first half of the season in all facets of the game.
The five-tool centerfielder has put himself firmly in Most Valuable Player conversations through 74 games this season, hitting 20 home runs and driving in 60 runs while slashing .266/.305/.550.
He became the youngest and fastest Cub in history to have 20 home runs and stolen bases before the All-Star break. He has 23 stolen bases on 26 attempts.
He leads all outfielders in Outs Above Average (13) and is second amongst outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved (10).
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The Cubs approached Crow-Armstrong with an extension worth up to $75 million but Crow-Armstrong declined. The rest of the contract details are unknown.
Crow-Armstrong spoke with 670 The Score about a possible extension and he spoke very highly of Chicago.
“What’s important to me is being somewhere I feel convicted in winning at, where I feel comfortable playing and living,” said Crow-Armstrong. “I absolutely think that Chicago is the place to do that for me. I already take so much pride in being a Cub.
“Any way that we can get me here for a while I think would be ideal. Until then, I’m going to keep focusing on this year because I would take a World Series this year over anything else.”
Crow-Armstrong is under team control through 2030, so the Cubs don’t need to worry about extending him just yet. However, the longer they wait, the more expensive his contract will be.
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