On a cool spring night at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs’ faithful buzzed with hope, not just for the next pitch but for the future of their team. Two names echoed through the stands louder than any others: Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Together, they’ve become just the second pair of teammates in MLB history to notch at least nine home runs and eight stolen bases each within their team’s first 34 games. As the Cubs surge through the early season, an even bigger question looms off the field: Can Chicago afford to keep both stars in blue pinstripes for the long haul?
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Mully & Haugh Show, he remarked, “Well, they should be able to afford both guys. Their revenues are very high; this is a very successful franchise, and they have done great from a business standpoint.” However, he also criticized the Cubs for missing out on Alex Bregman, a move that would have pushed their payroll to the edge of the luxury tax threshold.
Still, he believes the Cubs should prioritize re-signing Crow-Armstrong, who has impressed and could be locked in for around $100 million. Or who knows? Even less manageable figure considering the Club’s strong revenue and upcoming payroll flexibility. Speaking of Crow-Armstrong, Heyman shared how a rival MLB executive told him that the Cubs will need to at least put $500 million on the table for the 23-year-old. But Heyman doesn’t think so. And more importantly, the Cubs “not going to do that. That’s not the Cubs. But you’ve got to make him a good offer and give it a shot.”
Will the power duo be a good bet for the Chicago Cubs?
There is little room for debate right now: the Cubs have one of the best outfields in MLB this season. With a 5.0 fWAR, they are even ahead of the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Thanks to a solid lineup consisting of Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly, and Michael Busch. But what sets them apart is the Tucker-Crow-Armstrong duo. Though Tucker’s ability to play multiple positions is certainly a blessing, that’s not the only positive. His chemistry with Crow-Armstrong is utterly impressive.
Although Tucker went through a rough patch for a while, he still ranks among the top position players this season. His 168 wRC+ and a 15.3 percent walk rate outshine his strikeout rate of 11.7%. Not to mention, he and Crow-Armstrong’s combined 18 home runs took the Cubs to a total of 22 home runs, tying them with the Yankees atop the leaderboard.
Crow-Armstrong has impressed the Cubs fans just as much this season. Despite reaching base at just a .300 clip, he has managed to lower his strikeout rate, which has come down to 139 wRC+. He has even covered more ground than the other most—a very promising sign, too. All things considered, the combination of Tucker and Crow-Armstrong, on both offense and defense, could take the Cubs to new heights in the future. If the Cubs can afford to extend their contracts, keeping this duo together could be one of their best bets yet. What do you think?