Pirates Extending Konnor Griffin is a No-Brainer Decision

If you are a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, this has to be the most exciting season for you in quite some time. The front office started behaving in a manner that the fans have been begging for and putting pieces in place to putting a more competitive product on the field. Not to mention, the youth in the system that has helped shape this core and makes this Pirates team one of the more fascinating and fun teams to watch for this upcoming season. Speaking of youth, Konnor Griffin (the number one prospect in baseball), is pegged to being a large portion of this Pirates team. Not just for this season, but even for the foreseeable future and it’s been reported by Jeff Passan that the Pirates are open to extension talks.

Photo Credit: Matt Freed/Post Gazette

Pirates Extending Konnor Griffin is a No-Brainer Decision

Konnor Griffin is the top prospect in baseball and the buzz around him is higher than what it was around Roman Anthony (MLB top prospect last year). Griffin has been compared to players such as Bobby Witt Jr, and Fernando Tatis Jr and that is some high praise for a player that hasn’t seen the Triple A level yet. In Spring Training, he has garnered more of a buzz and it’s gone on notice by Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper.

“He’s gonna be a stud man.”

Griffin showcased his ability and what he is made of when he steps up to the plate. The Pirates prospect hit TWO home runs against the Red Sox in their spring training game and both of those home runs left the park completely. Griffin is special talent, with a mean aggressive swing that is a display on full on power. The Pirates haven’t had this type of player generate this much buzz from the hitter side of things in quite some time. If you are the Pirates front office, it’s fine to get aggressive and get after this extension.

All of the talk this past season has been around Paul Skenes and at what point are the Pirates going to trade him. While, they should give him an extension and paying him his proper value, that’s a topic for a much later date. As for Griffin, they need to lock him up and make him the nucleus of their team.

The Pirates have been the laughing stock for quite some time, from the way they operate to the continuous losing seasons. At this current state of their team, they have a generational talent on the mound (Skenes) and what is poised to be a generational talent in the hitter Griffin. It’s time to lay the foundation and make these guys the drivers of the ship and get this ship to the proper port that is the postseason. Being aggressive isn’t the wrong approach either, as this is a common pattern we’ve seen across the baseball landscape.

Teams are locking up their younger players early and getting out in front of it. It is something that you can criticize the Baltimore Orioles front office for not doing because the train has left that station and there isn’t a point of return.

Roman Anthony and the Red Sox are partnered up for the foreseeable future. He received eight years and $130 million, with escalators that can reach $230 million. Anthony played just 71 games, but that sample gave a glimpse of everything he can be for that organization. If the front office wants to be aggressive, they could push the envelope to that price point.

Another comparison that everyone will resort to is Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers. He signed his eight year, $82 million deal before he ever set foot on an MLB level diamond. Also, he was the same age as Griffin at the time of that contract. If the Pirates are to go that route, it’ll likely take more than $82 million. You are likely looking at $100 million and even then that could be a bargain. Do they add escalators? Do they throw in club options? How much sweetener do they need to add to the pot? All-Star appearances, MVP Awards, etc. Throw in EVERYTHING.

This offseason, the Sacramento Athletics locked up runner up to the AL Rookie of the Year in Jacob Wilson (7 years, $70 million) and also secured Tyler Soderstrom (7 years, $86 million), that has escalators for it to reach $130 million. They are also looking to lock up Nick Kurtz to a long term extension. That’s a team that’s been in similar position to the Pirates and they are locking up their core group. Time for the Pirates to do the same. There is the element that Griffin will know his own worth and knows what ceiling he can reach. Meet him at a price point he can’t refuse, especially before the new CBA comes in.

There are so many routes that the Pirates can go, but this is a no-brainer decision for this front office. They’ve already stepped outside of their comfort zone spending this winter and now it’s time to stretch that comfort zone and extend their young star in the making. Turning the ship around and having Skenes and Griffin be the ones steering it together is what the goal should be.

Extend Griffin and extend him NOW.