Overview
- The Pirates, which announced the agreement Wednesday, locked up the rookie shortstop through 2034 on a nine-year deal guaranteed at $140 million, with escalators reported to lift the total near $150 million.
- The guarantee is the largest in franchise history and, according to ESPN, the biggest ever for a player in his rookie season.
- By completing the deal after his first MLB game, Pittsburgh kept eligibility for MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive, which can award a first-round pick if Griffin wins Rookie of the Year or places top three in MVP voting in 2026–2028.
- Reporting indicates the contract buys out arbitration years with no options or deferrals and no full no-trade clause, giving the team cost certainty and roster flexibility as it departs from a reputation for low spending.
- Drafted ninth in 2024, Griffin became the consensus No. 1 prospect after a 2025 breakout (.333/.415/.527, 21 HR, 65 SB) and debuted last week with an RBI double, with modest early big-league stats over a few games.