Konnor Griffin Promotion Changes Pirates Contract Negotiations
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have decided that it's time for Konnor Griffin to make his mark at the highest level, but he could do that for the franchise for much longer than originally anticipated.
The Pirates are calling up Griffin ahead of their home opener vs. the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, bringing their best prospect up to a fan base that can't wait to see him play.
Griffin gives the Pirates their shortstop for the future with an impressive bat, a top glove and blistering speed on the basepaths, making him the multi-faceted athlete that could bring meaningful baseball back to Pittsburgh.
He could also stick around with the Pirates for the foreseeable future, especially if he signs an extension with them.
Extension Talks Between Griffin and Pirates
The Pirates and Griffin's representatives have held talks surrounding a contract extension this offseason, with both parties seeing the benefits for the deal.
Reports showed that they are both off on what they see as a reasonable deal, as the Pirates offered an eight-year, $110 million contract and Griffin's team wants something more around eight years, $130 million.
The $20 million is the difference between what outfielder Corbin Carroll signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in March 2023 and what former consensus top prospect in outfielder Roman Anthony signed with the Boston Red Sox in August 2025.
The Pirates, if they sign Griffin, will make it the biggest contract signed in franchise history, eclipsing outfielder Bryan Reynolds, who signed an eight-year, $106.75 million extension on April 25, 2023.
Pittsburgh and Griffin will likely find a way to come to an agreement, as both parties benefit greatly from a contract extension.
The Pirates will have Griffin as their main star from the plate and in the field early on and also, they can take two years of free agency from Griffin with an eight-year deal.
Griffin would have three years of pre-arbitration, where he makes a little more than the minimum salary for an MLB player, $780,000 in 2026. He then would have three years of arbitration, where he and the Pirates either come to an agreement on the upcoming year's salary or it goes to a panel, which decides in favor of the player of the team.
While Griffin would lose two years of free agency, he would still be in his prime when he is done with this Pirates contract. He could still sign an even bigger contract before he turns 28 years old if he becomes the player he is projected to be, which would come on top of the money he's making now.
An impending MLB lockout, with the collective bargaining agreement expiring on Dec. 1, which would impact Griffin and his years of service.
If he earns a full year of service in 2026 and there is no 2027 season, then that's a year of service the Pirates don't get back.
Signing him to an extension means the Pirates don't have to worry about what a lockout would entail or his service time.
Why Pirates Will Likely Wait Until After MLB Debut for Extension
Pittsburgh and Griffin could agree to an extension before his MLB debut, which two MLB teams have already done this offseason.
The Seattle Mariners just signed shortstop Colt Emerson to an eight-year, $95 million deal and the Milwaukee Brewers signed Cooper Pratt to an eight-year, $51 million contract, both this week before they featured at the major league level.
Pittsburgh likely won't sign Griffin to an extension before he makes his MLB debut, as he could still help them earn a Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI), which would benefit them in the 2027 draft.
The PPI came as a part of the most recent collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which MLB put in to encourage teams to put their best prospects on their roster for most or all of the season.
The Pirates need Griffin on their roster for 172 service days in his first season and then he would have to either win Rookie of the Year Award or earn MVP votes in one of his first three seasons.
Griffin signing a contract extension before he makes his MLB debut negates the Pirates from earning a PPI pick.
The Pirates are big on building through the draft and they will most likely make sure that they can earn that PPI pick, especially if Griffin has a big season.
Pittsburgh also missed out on the PPI pick with right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes, who won the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Award, as he didn't make his debut until May 11, but not rushing Skenes also helped him win that accolade as well.
Griffin looks ready to go out and compete amongst the best young talent in baseball and what should be one of the better groups of rookies in recent history in 2026.
Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.