The Chicago Cubs are one of the projected top teams entering the 2026 season. They have some major names on their roster, and they should be viewed as an upper-echelon team right now. While there are a handful of different players who could be the team’s leader statistically, there is one player who is expected to be just that. Let’s take a deeper dive into who it is projected to be and what they said about him.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is projected to lead the Chicago Cubs in WAR this season
Oct 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after striking out against the Milwaukee Brewers in the third inning during game three of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The trio of Theo DeRosa, Brent Maguire, and Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru wrote an article projecting each team’s top player this upcoming season. For the Cubs, they selected center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and predicted him to record 4.7 Wins Above Replacement. Below is what they wrote regarding the young outfielder:
“In 2025, Crow-Armstrong put it all together with an incredible first half, hitting 25 homers and stealing 27 bases to go with fantastic defensive ability in center field — his +24 Outs Above Average were tied for the most in MLB. But a poor second half (.216/.262/.372 with only six homers) put a damper on PCA’s breakout season. Still, the Cubs outfielder put up 5.4 WAR and is projected to lead a talented Chicago club in ’26.”
Crow-Armstrong ended up having a spectacular season, making his first National League All-Star team, Gold Glove, and finishing ninth in the 2025 NL MVP voting. He finished with a .768 OPS with 31 home runs, 95 RBI, 91 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases while being caught eight times in 157 games. With the addition of third baseman Alex Bregman in their lineup, it allows players like PCA to be overlooked and for him to dominate. It will be intriguing to see how he performs during the 2026 season.
Chicago Cubs: Will 2026 be doom or bloom for Daniel Palencia?
Read More
For More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE