Pirates Sign Teenage Shortstop Konnor Griffin to 9-Year, $140M Deal

The largest contract in club history reflects the team's commitment to winning now and in the future.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:56pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in progress, with the players and field abstracted into sharp, overlapping planes of color in the official team colors of the Pittsburgh Pirates.The Pirates' historic investment in teenage phenom Konnor Griffin signals the team's long-term vision and commitment to building a championship contender.Today in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin to a nine-year, $140 million contract, the largest deal in franchise history. Griffin, the team's 2024 first-round draft pick, has impressed in his brief MLB debut, hitting .333 with 21 home runs and 94 RBIs in the minors. The Pirates see Griffin as a key part of their plans to return to relevance and end their over decade-long playoff drought.

Why it matters

The Pirates' decision to sign the teenage phenom to such a lucrative long-term deal signals their commitment to building a winning team and ending their postseason drought. Griffin is viewed as a cornerstone player who can help lead the franchise back to contention.

The details

Griffin's contract includes escalators that could raise the total value to $150 million. The deal comes less than a week after the former first-round pick made his major league debut. Pirates owner Bob Nutting said the nine-year agreement reflects the team's dedication to winning both now and in the future.

  • Griffin was selected by the Pirates with the 9th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
  • He sprinted through the team's farm system, hitting .333 with 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases.
  • Griffin was one of the final cuts during spring training last month, but was called up to the majors after just a week in Triple-A.
  • Griffin made his MLB debut last Friday, lacing an RBI-double in his first at-bat against Baltimore.

The players

Konnor Griffin

A 19-year-old shortstop who was the Pirates' 2024 first-round draft pick. He has impressed in his brief MLB debut, hitting .333 with 21 home runs and 94 RBIs in the minors.

Bob Nutting

The owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who said the nine-year contract reflects the team's commitment to winning this season and in the future.

Ben Cherington

The Pirates' general manager, who said the 'ingredients' were in place for a long-term pact with Griffin.

Paul Skenes

The reigning NL Cy Young winner, who called Griffin 'a big leaguer through and through.'

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What they’re saying

“This week has been amazing, debut week, and then sitting here signing a contract, it's been amazing. It's one of the best weeks of my life. ... But it'll be even better if we can get a win today.”

— Konnor Griffin

“This is an important step for 2026 as we look at it right now, but obviously this is a long-term commitment. It's a long-term statement of where we're headed as an organization, where we are headed with this team. ... This obviously is an unusual and dramatic step for the Pittsburgh Pirates. So I'm excited, I hope our fans are excited, I hope the city is excited, I know the organization is excited.”

— Bob Nutting, Pirates Owner

“I'm pumped to be a Pirate and be a part of this wonderful clubhouse. A lot of great talent back there and coaches and staff. Thank you all for being here to support me. Y'all made this transition to the big leagues super easy. And I'm just pumped to go compete. The goal is to win. The goal is to win a World Series. And I think we've got a great clubhouse to go do that. I'm pump to be part of it.”

— Konnor Griffin

What’s next

The Pirates will look to build around Konnor Griffin as they aim to end their over decade-long playoff drought and compete for a World Series championship.

The takeaway

The Pirates' historic investment in the 19-year-old Griffin signals their belief that he can be a franchise-altering talent who can help lead the team back to relevance and end their postseason drought. The deal reflects the organization's long-term vision and commitment to winning.