StonesJournal

The Pittsburgh Pirates have CASHED IN. It’s getting real, fast. Paul Skenes might soon have the surrounding cast necessary to take his unstoppable nature to the playoffs.

Written By: AJ Stone (4/3/26)

The Pittsburgh Pirates are working to finalize a deal to net the talents of superstar prospect Konnor Griffin for the long haul, per MLB insider Buster Olney.

The contract is expected to land in the $140 million range for nine years.

Konnor Griffin: Superstar

Griffin, 19, has yet to play an inning in The Show, but has done nothing but terrorize pitchers in the minors since he was drafted.

This spring, Griffin hit a mere .171, but swatted four home runs and flashed his elite glove work in the infield, showcasing his high ceiling. Spring is a time for young pieces to find their footing, and according to Griffin’s hot start in the minors, he did just that.

His .571 batting average and 1.196 OPS in 21 games screamed: “I’m ready!” At the top of their lungs until eventually, the front office caved, and fans now eagerly await one of the more anticipated debuts in recent history.

When he does make his debut, Griffin will be the first position player to take an at-bat in the big leagues as a teenager since Juan Soto in 2018. That’s a great company to be in before you’ve ever set foot on the diamond.

Griffin was ranked as the number one prospect in the game ahead of 2026 and has highlighted the Pittsburgh system since he was drafted. His skill set is unique in regard to his size. Bulky shortstops don’t tend to stick up the middle. That was the initial thought when it came to Griffin, but as he matured, player comps did as well.

In the words of Kendall Capps at ClutchPoints, “…There were comps to Fernando Tatis Jr. early on. That comp has since changed, more in the likes of Bobby Witt Jr.”

With so much young talent now on the horizon, and an offseason that saw the Pirates bring in multiple All-Stars, Steel City might be gearing up for a run at the NL Central.

CBA Scaries?

Other teams have taken similar routes early in the season to buy into young talent they expect to blossom. The Mariners and shortstop prospect Colt Emerson agreed to an 8-year, and the division rival Brewers kept Cooper Pratt in-house with a contract that could reach 10 years.

Additionally, Buster Olney reported that the surge in spending to lock up young talent comes in part due to the belief that any deal signed before December 1st will be “grandfathered into” the next CBA. If that’s the case, it’s better that Pittsburgh cashes in now. 

The Pirates made a strategic move, inking one of their more intriguing prospects to a long-term deal. Not only will this contract not be swayed by any CBA changes, but the team has built a real foundation for success.

Griffin, Paul Skenes, Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, and the rest of a young and buzzing rotation are all pieces of the future for the Buccos. For the first time in a long time, there’s light at the end of the tunnel for Pirates fans.