Cubs’ Extension Options Plentiful

The Cubs have very few players under contract past 2026 and 2027, which means the next few winters could be quite busy. Just a few years ago, the team had one of the best farm systems in baseball. Those players are now reaching the major leagues, which could prove to be pivotal as Jed Hoyer looks to construct the next great Cubs team.

Extending young talent is one of the best ways to keep the payroll low, although it carries risk for both the team and the player. Nonetheless, if it works out, the team looks like geniuses for years to come. Free agency is a nasty business, with agents wanting to get the most money for their clients, and rightfully so. When a player hits the open market, all 30 teams are able to negotiate for their services. Negotiating a contract before a player reaches free agency makes it much more likely that they return to their current team, unless they are a Scott Boras client, of course.

The Cubs currently have several extension candidates, with a unique opportunity to lock up their core for the foreseeable future. It would be in their best interest to seriously consider securing at least one deal before the season starts.

Nico Hoerner is entering the final year of his contract, which was an extension signed before he would have become a free agent. The Cubs bought out some of his arbitration years, along with a year of free agency. His name has entered trade rumors this winter due to his uncertain contract status, although no deal appears imminent. He won his second Gold Glove Award in 2024, continuing to establish himself as one of the best defensive players in the sport. Along with his defense, he battled Trea Turner for the National League batting title.

Fans like home runs because they are flashy, but Hoerner provides his value through his ability to deliver in clutch situations. He is often described as one of the hardest-working players in the clubhouse, which is an underrated aspect of his game. He has been with the team since his debut in 2019, quickly becoming one of the longest-tenured Cubs on the roster.

Trading Hoerner would net the Cubs a strong return, but they do not have a clear replacement for him. One option would be moving Matt Shaw to second base if Alex Bregman were to land in Chicago, but otherwise, the prospect depth chart is thin in terms of MLB-ready second basemen. Hoerner was one of the most valuable players in baseball during the 2025 season and seems like a no-brainer to sign long-term. He is consistent and a prominent figure on the team, both of which are qualities the Cubs need with several young players trying to establish themselves.

Pete Crow-Armstrong may be the most obvious name to appear on this list. He is one of the most electric players in baseball, with a breakout season in 2025 that turned heads around the league. There is some risk involved with Crow-Armstrong, but his first-half offensive production was at an MVP level. That pace is likely unrealistic over a full season, as shown this year, but there is still a lot to like about his game.

Plate discipline and swing decisions remain the primary concerns with Crow-Armstrong. Otherwise, he exceeded expectations by hitting for more power, continued to wreak havoc on the basepaths, and was unsurprisingly elite in center field. Even if the offense goes through a down period, his defense alone keeps his floor higher than most.

Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs discussed an extension during the season but were unable to reach an agreement. After a less-than-ideal offensive finish to the year, it may be something his agency is more willing to revisit. An extension would guarantee him life-changing money while allowing the Cubs to lock in his price for years to come.

He did not win the Rookie of the Year Award, but Cade Horton caught everyone’s attention during his rookie campaign in 2025. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, proving many prospect evaluators right. There is a fair argument that Horton enters 2026 as the Cubs’ ace, although pitchers can be volatile.

This extension feels like the least likely of the three but is still worth exploring. It is important to note that Horton was one of the best pitchers in baseball during the second half of the 2025 season. He established himself as one of the most intriguing arms in the sport, with his rookie status making that even more impressive.

Because pitcher contracts are inherently risky and Horton has a complex injury history, it may be best to wait before committing to a long-term deal. Nonetheless, if he is willing to take a discount to guarantee a payday over the next several years, the Cubs should seriously consider it.

The Cubs are still searching for a major addition this winter, but locking in one or two players for the coming seasons is a way to add long-term value without competing against the rest of the league in free agency. These extensions often occur closer to Spring Training, which makes sense as the team continues to evaluate the free agent and trade markets before finalizing its roster for the season.