The Chicago Cubs are rolling 56 games into the season with a 35-21 record. The team has a three-game lead in the National League Central and doesn’t show signs of falling off.
Two big reasons for Chicago’s success are Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong. The outfield duo has been tearing it up this season with the bat, the glove and on the base paths.
The problem for the Cubs is Tucker is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and the Cubs have never dished out a contract near what Tucker is expected to sign for.
Patrick Mooney of The Athletic commented on the possibility of both Tucker and Crow-Armstrong signing extensions this year on Foul Territory.
“With Tucker, it’s certainly a possibility,” Mooney said. “The Cubs, that’s not their business plan thus far, and maybe Kyle Tucker is the ultimate exception… Right now I would certainly expect a Pete extension to be more likely than a Kyle Tucker extension, no doubt.”
Tucker, 28, has been one of the best players in Major League Baseball since 2021. In his first season with the Cubs, he has 12 home runs and 39 RBI while slashing .281/.388/.535 in 56 games. He has also stolen 15 bases without being caught stealing.
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Crow-Armstrong, 23, is having a breakout season after struggling offensively last season. In 123 games last year, he hit 10 home runs and drove in 47 runs while slashing .237/.286/.384.
This year, in only 56 games, Crow-Armstrong has 15 home runs and 50 RBI while slashing .275/.303/.563. He has 16 stolen bases on 19 attempts and is playing Gold Glove caliber defense.
The Cubs approached Crow-Armstrong about an extension, but they couldn’t come to an agreement. The good news is Crow-Armstrong is under team control for a long time and Chicago doesn’t need to extend him yet.
Tucker has stated before that he is open to extending with Chicago, but he is focused on winning baseball games right now.
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer doesn’t like to air out extension talk, saying if they have talks of an extension for Tucker, it will stay in-house.
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