The Chicago Cubs are staging a remarkable comeback this season, and at the center of it all is a 23-year-old outfielder who’s fast becoming the talk of the league. From jaw-dropping performances to serious consideration for the NL MVP run, his breakout year reshapes expectations. And just like Aaron Judge once did, he’s betting on himself—and so far, it looks like that gamble could pay off in a big way.

Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong is not only having a standout season, but he is making history. He just hit two home runs—including his career-first grand slam—in his second six-RBI game of the season, against the Reds on Friday. He’s clearly not messing around, and for the Cubs, he’s proving to be a true game-changer. The team previously offered him a long-term deal believed to be worth around $70 million, but that was rejected in the spring.

However, his season has been so good that those numbers are likely off the table now. According to Preston Miklich of Fuzzy, he could expect a much bigger deal, just like Aaron Judge—and rightfully so! “They’re actively trying to raise the initial offer because Pete said no to that. Shout-out to Pete Crow-Armstrong. You can bet on yourself and win, just like he’s doing right now, or like Aaron Judge did before popping off for 60-plus home runs. He rejected an extension and won himself a lot more money.” Yes, we’ve seen this kind of scenario before.

Miklich’s observation isn’t wrong. When Judge entered 2022, he was the biggest free agent. The Yankees had offered him a seven-year, $213.5 million contract extension, which, of course, he rejected. After an unbelievable season with 62 homers, they had to come back with a $360 million deal for nine years.  That’s an example of how value can skyrocket right there. Armstrong could make it happen, too, given his current stats and record-breaking season, it’s entirely within reach. But, of course, there’s always the chance things could go south.

Remember when Jarred Kelenic declined a pretty big extension from the Mariners back in 2020, hoping for a better deal? Well, he can’t be blamed for that. He was a top-5 prospect in all of baseball at the time. But it didn’t turn out well for the now-Braves star, he didn’t even debut that year.

Still, that’s far from likely in Armstrong’s case. The Cubs can’t hold off on offering a more lucrative deal by pointing to the contracts of young players like Lawrence Butler or Ezequiel Tovar anymore, he has clearly upped his game. The team can’t ignore him, and even their president has attested to that.

Cubs president sees a legend in the making with Pete Crow-Armstrong

It’s not every day that a star is born in Chicago. With Pete Crow-Armstrong, every game brings the Cubs closer to championship contention. Even Baseball Reference predicted their chance at the World Series last month. Cubs’ President of Baseball Operations, Jed Hoyer, awestruck by Armstrong’s potential, has covered him with praise, even comparing him to Javier Báez.

“We think the world of him,” Hoyer said on the Mully & Haugh Show. “He’s beating you in so many different ways. When Javy was at his prime in 2018 or so, there were a lot of ways he could help you win a game on a given night.” He’s definitely not missing the point about Armstrong’s ability to win a game for the team.

Pete currently boasts a .908 OPS with a .287/.319/.589 triple-slash line, along with 14 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 30 runs scored in 202 at-bats. He’s leading the National League with a 3.3 bWAR and trails only the likes of Aaron Judge across all of baseball. And guess what? His game against the Reds made him the first Cubs player to have 2 games with at least 6 RBIs in a season since RBI became an official stat in 1920.

That speaks volumes about the kind of player he is and underscores how vital he’s become to the Cubs. He’s elevated the spirit of the game in Chicago, and if his form continues, the rest of the season looks very promising for the Cubs. This just underlines one thing all over, Pete Crow-Armstrong is not a star to miss—he’s a star the Cubs must hold on to.