New MLB Rumors Reveal Top Prospect Konnor Griffin, Pirates 'Deep' in Contract Talks

Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Konnor Griffin could get in on the growing trend of prospects to sign a contract extension before making their MLB debut.

Per ESPN's Buster Olney, Griffin and the Pirates are "deep" in talks over what each side believes would be a fair deal for the 19-year-old.

Olney noted the Pirates are pitching a deal similar to Corbin Carroll's eight-year, $111 million extension with the Arizona Diamondbacks in March 2023, while Griffin's camp is seeking one close to Roman Anthony's eight-year, $130 million deal with the Boston Red Sox signed last August.

There was no indication from Olney's report that the two sides are close to a deal, though he did state they have been talking since early in spring training.

Griffin entered this season as a near-unanimous choice for the No. 1 overall prospect in MLB. He sits atop MLB.com's top 100 list, ahead of Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle.

McGonigle and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt are the only top-five prospects on MLB's list who opened the season in the big leagues.

Since the start of the 2023 season, teams have been aggressively signing prospects and first-year players to long-term deals. Anthony, Caroll and Kristian Campbell got deals with fewer than 50 games of MLB experience. Jackson Chourio, Colt Keith, Cooper Pratt and Colt Emerson all signed extensions before reaching the big leagues.

Pratt and Emerson got new deals this week. Pratt received an eight-year, $50.8 million deal from the Milwaukee Brewers. Emerson got an eight-year deal worth a guaranteed $95 million from the Seattle Mariners, with a team option and escalators that could increase the total value to more than $130 million.

Assuming the terms Olney presented in Griffin's talks represent the guaranteed money he would receive, either one would shatter the mark for the highest contract given to a player with zero games of MLB experience.

Emerson's deal broke the previous mark set by Chourio, who got $82 million from the Brewers in 2023. Chourio's deal can max out at $140 million.

Griffin, the No. 9 pick in the 2024 MLB draft, is currently in Triple-A with the Pirates' affiliate in Indianapolis. He is off to a red-hot start with a .462/.588/.692 slash line in 17 plate appearances through four games.

The Pirates already have arguably the best franchise building block on the pitching side in MLB with Paul Skenes. Griffin, whenever he debuts, could end up being the anchor of their lineup for years to come and give the franchise a nucleus to work with as they look to make a playoff push for the first time since 2015.