The Chicago Cubs decided to re-sign Cody Bellinger to a three-year deal worth $80 million. After an offseason that didn't see them land any significant offensive pieces, it was a necessity to bring Bellinger back.
However, that signing can put top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong in a bad position this season. The 21-year-old is the No. 16 overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com.
This season appeared to be the perfect time to call up the former first-round pick of the New York Mets in 2020.
With Bellinger signing, that doesn't look to be the case any longer.
According to Will Leitch of MLB.com, he believes that Crow-Armstrong will start the season in Triple-A Iowa.
Leitch writes that the quickest way for him to get regular at-bats is to have him in Triple-A.
Getting consistent at-bats is a positive, but Crow-Armstrong doesn't have much more to show at that level. In 2023, he slashed .271/.350/.479 in 34 Triple-A games with six home runs.
He made his debut in the big leagues last season and struggled, failing to get a hit in 14 at-bats. Crow-Armstrong struck out seven times in those 14 at-bats.
Bellinger can play first base and with him signing a three-year deal, the Cubs need to have a plan for Crow-Armstrong. Perhaps they plan to move him to first base in the future, even as early as this season.
Making him a fourth outfielder this early in his career wouldn't make sense, so the next logical solution is to send him down.
More must-reads: