It is officially Pete Crow-Armstrong time in Wrigleyville; likely, without being optioned down at all unless it is after coming back from an injury.
Many reporters and analysts expected him to make his debut next year on opening day. However, due to Jeimer Candelario’s back injury, Jed Hoyer decided (with help from General Manager Carter Hawkins) that it was time to call Crow-Armstrong up this week in Colorado. He made his debut on Monday facing former Cub Kris Bryant and the Colorado Rockies.
While this is great, the timing of his debut is especially ironic , since the last offensive prospect that was as highly touted as him was Bryant in 2015. Crow-Armstrong is 21… Bryant was 23 when he made his debut. Also, most do not realize, Crow-Armstrong is from Southern California and was traded for Javy Baez two years ago. Cody Bellinger, being a former Los Angeles Dodger, might just be the perfect veteran presence for the Cubs to keep around as Pete comes into his own the next five-six years.
Two years means a ton especially, considering Hoyer had Hawkins’ role back in 2015 and ultimately failed with using Kris’ service time correctly in the eyes of some fans and Bryant himself. Does this mean Pete’s age has more meaning? Simple: he will barely be in his prime years when his arbitration years come to pass, meaning we could have ten years of Crow-Armstrong ahead of us in Chicago. Many baseball fans think his performance the rest of this month and, if the Cubs make it to October, in the playoffs will have a huge role in the decision Hoyer makes this winter about whether to re-sign Bellinger.
For most of July it was looking likely Bellinger would be traded. There were only two local reporters in Chicago who thought the Cubs would keep him and their reasoning was his ability to be a leader. According to many reports he was the one who called a players only meeting the week before the trade deadline that led to Hoyer making two smaller moves buying Candelario and Jose Cuas to fill two holes the team had.
Here is the thing folks: Whether or not Bellinger stays here in Chicago, he will get at least $200 million over five years this winter. With his injury history including the knee injury this year when they were in Houston it will be two things that still gets him the big pay day he is looking for. His ability to play a solid game on defense at first base and his leadership in the clubhouse both present an opportunity for any team that wants a veteran who can be looked up to in the clubhouse that younger players and rookies will look up to.
With guys like Miles Mastrobuoni and Patrick Wisdom on the Cubs’ roster who have had rough years at the plate it would make complete sense for the Cubs to make an offer to Cody for 5-6 years at $25 to $30 million per season this winter. The question is will he accept such an offer? He talked his way into town using the media last winter saying he wanted to be here before Jed Hoyer made a formal offer to him. My logic says keep him here leaving third base being the only hole to fill on offense l to make this team solid contenders the next few years.
Let’s not forget that if the Cubs were able to convince Bellinger to stay here this would also give them the second coming of Jason Heyward. While many fans have been petitioning for Hoyer to re-sign him since before September call-ups happened two weeks ago, I am just not sure Hoyer is even considering long term deals even at the five-six year range for guys with injury histories like Bellinger’s. Maybe I am wrong. Only time will tell.
With that… we can only hope Hoyer finds a good leader for the clubhouse after this year who will help these youngsters grow into solid and consistently great players who will be here for a long time.
If you cannot play with them, root for them!