Overview
- The Pirates’ agreement, announced Wednesday, keeps the top prospect under contract through 2034 for $140 million, the largest guarantee in franchise history.
- Reports say escalators could raise the total to about $150 million, and reporting indicates no full no-trade clause with some outlets adding there are no options or deferrals.
- By finalizing the contract after his MLB debut, Pittsburgh preserved eligibility for MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive, which can award a first-round pick if he wins Rookie of the Year or finishes top three in MVP voting from 2026 to 2028.
- Griffin surged from the 2024 draft to the majors after hitting .333 with 21 home runs and 65 steals in 2025, then opened his big league career with an RBI double last week.
- The deal buys out his arbitration years at an average of about $15.6 million per season and reflects a plan to build around Griffin and ace Paul Skenes during a postseason drought dating to 2015.