The Pittsburgh Pirates locked up their 19-year-old shortstop on a record nine-year deal less than a week after his MLB debut.
Without even playing a full week in the big leagues, Konnor Griffin has made Pittsburgh Pirates’ history. The Pirates locked up their teenage shortstop on a nine-year, $140 million deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan and Buster Olney, which is the largest guarantee in franchise history. Not just that, but the deal is also the largest ever handed to a player in his rookie season. It surpasses the record for a player so early in his career set by Roman Anthony with the Boston Red Sox, who inked an eight-year, $130 million deal two months after his major debut. Pittsburgh is investing a lot in Griffin, as they bought out three potential years of free agency to keep him from the open market. But they’ll keep the rights to move him, as the deal doesn’t have a full no-trade clause.
In locking up their franchise cornerstone to a long-term deal – and importantly, finalizing it after his debut – Pittsburgh retained eligibility for a first round pick via the Prospect Promotion Incentive. Should Griffin win Rookie of the Year, or finish in the top three in MVP voting in 2026, 2027, or 2028, the Pirates would be awarded the pick. The top prospect in baseball made his debut as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop in their home opener Thursday, becoming the first teenage position player to do so since Juan Soto in 2018. Griffin is slashing .176/.300/.235 with three RBIs and two runs in his first five games. The team is 4-1 since his debut and tout the fifth-best record in baseball at 7-4 overall.
Here is the full story from Pirates Roundtable writer John Perrotto on the monumental deal for the club.
The extension is a major commitment from a franchise that typically carries one of baseball's lowest payrolls. They’re showing a dedication to contending, and are hoping they placed their bets right on a 19-year-old shortstop for their first postseason berth since 2015.