At the trade deadline, the Cubs shouldn’t take Pete Crow-Armstrong’s season for granted CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong’s meteoric rise to superstardom has positioned him as a cornerstone of the Chicago Cubs’ future, with his performance this season reshaping the team’s approach to the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The 24-year-old center fielder, who signed a six-year, $115 million contract extension before Opening Day in March, has become a focal point of the Cubs’ playoff aspirations. His combination of offensive production, defensive prowess, and clubhouse leadership has elevated him to the top of the league in wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs and Baseball Reference. Crow-Armstrong’s journey to this point has been marked by rapid growth. After being acquired in a 2021 trade that saw the Cubs part with fan favorites Kris Bryant and Javier Báez, he has evolved into a player who dominates both sides of the ball. His offensive approach has matured significantly, with a more selective hitting plan leading to a more than doubling of his walk rate from the previous season without sacrificing power (21 home runs) or speed (25 stolen bases). Defensively, he has emerged as a Gold Glove-level performer, leading the majors in Statcast’s outs above average and fielding run value. The Cubs’ leadership has consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining Crow-Armstrong’s current trajectory. General manager Jed Hoyer, who oversaw the 2016 World Series team’s trade-deadline acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, praised Crow-Armstrong’s disciplined approach. “This current approach is exactly what we always hoped he could get to,” Hoyer said. “It just came a lot faster than we thought.#chicago_cubs #shohei_ohtani #aaron_judge #pete_crowarmstrong #jed_hoyer
Cubs Focus on Pitching Amid Injury Challenges and Trade Deadline Outlook Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer emphasized at the start of June that the team’s primary focus remains on bolstering its pitching staff as they approach the August 3 trade deadline. Despite a struggling offense this month, Hoyer reiterated that pitching will continue to be the priority, as injuries have significantly impacted the team’s rotation. Hoyer spoke on Tuesday morning during an appearance on 104.3 The Score’s Mully & Haugh Show, noting that conversations about pitching transactions are ongoing but typically remain on the smaller scale at this stage of the season. He attributed this to the crowded playoff picture in both leagues, which has left most teams in a buyer/seller limbo. “The major moves and significant transactions are much more likely to happen post All-Star Break or even closer to the deadline,” Hoyer said. The front office is currently exploring ways to strengthen the pitching staff through smaller trades or acquisitions, citing last year’s minor trade for Drew Pomeranz as an example of such a strategy. The Cubs are still hopeful that Justin Steele, their left-handed reliever, can contribute this season, though Hoyer acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his availability. “Whether or not he can help us at the end of the season is unclear,” Hoyer said. “I think it’s unrealistic to think he’s going to be fully stretched out at any point, so if he does help us, I think it’s going to be in shorter bursts. Expecting starts this year is unrealistic.” The long-term goal is for Steele to return to his 2023-24 All-Star form, ideally factoring into the bullpen and entering next offseason with a clean bill of health.#tarik_skubal #cubs #jed_hoyer #104_3_the_score #mully_haugh_show
