Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in settlement on a nine-year extension, the staff introduced, locking up the highest prospect in baseball lower than every week after his main league debut.
The deal is value $140 million, sources informed ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Buster Olney, the biggest assure in Pirates historical past in addition to for a participant in his rookie season.
Griffin, 19, was the primary teenage place participant to debut since Juan Soto in 2018 when he took over beginning shortstop duties for the Pirates earlier than their house opener Thursday. The contract buys out three potential years of free company for Griffin, who’s regarded all through the trade as a franchise-level expertise.
“Signing Konnor is a meaningful commitment to this team, this city and our fans. It reflects our belief in Konnor, in this season’s club and in the future of our organization,” mentioned Pirates chair Bob Nutting in an announcement. “Konnor represents everything we value in a player — exceptional talent, strong character, a team-first mentality and a maturity that stood out to all of us from the beginning. He is the right person, from the right family. This is another important step in the work we have been doing to build a winning team, for this year and going forward.”
After negotiating on a possible extension all through the spring, Griffin and the Pirates this week labored out the main points on a framework reported earlier by ESPN’s Buster Olney. By ready to finalize the deal till after Griffin’s debut, Pittsburgh is eligible to reap a first-round draft decide by the Prospect Promotion Incentive ought to Griffin win Rookie of the Year or end within the prime three of MVP voting in 2026, 2027 or 2028.
The consensus minor league participant of the 12 months in 2025 after hitting .333/.415/.527 throughout three ranges, Griffin was the ninth general decide within the 2024 draft out of Jackson Prep in Mississippi. While scouts questioned his hit instrument and his capability to stay at shortstop, Griffin carved by minor league pitching and proved himself a plus defender throughout his quick sojourn to the large leagues.
In his first 5 video games with the Pirates, Griffin is hitting .176/.300/.235 with three RBIs and two runs. Since Griffin’s debut, Pittsburgh is 4-1 and at 7-4 sports activities the fifth-best report in baseball. The Pirates’ pitching, particularly, has been a vivid spot, with ace Paul Skenes main a rotation whose 3.27 ERA is seventh finest in MLB.
The largest earlier deal handed out by the Pirates was the eight-year, $106.75 million extension for outfielder Bryan Reynolds. The earlier report for a participant so early in his profession was Boston outfielder Roman Anthony’s eight-year, $130 million contract with a ninth-year membership choice signed about two months after his debut final 12 months.
Griffin is the third rookie this spring to signal a long-term extension, following Seattle signing shortstop Colt Emerson to an eight-year, $95 million deal with a ninth-year membership choice and Milwaukee giving shortstop Cooper Pratt $50.75 million over eight seasons with two membership choices. Both stay at Triple-A.
Pittsburgh can pay a big premium to maintain Griffin from reaching free company earlier than his age-26 season — and can retain the choice to transfer him, because the deal doesn’t embody a full no-trade clause, sources mentioned.
Nevertheless, the deal is a monumental dedication from a company that yearly carries among the many lowest payrolls in baseball. The Pirates did make a run at signing Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber over the winter and as a substitute added first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn, second baseman Brandon Lowe and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna as they struggle to make the postseason for the primary time since 2015, the longest drought within the National League.
