MLB teams are focused on securing their future as they hand out contract extensions to their top prospects and minor leaguers. While the Milwaukee Brewers and the Seattle Mariners have already done so, the Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly invested in a negotiation with Konnor Griffin. The No.9 overall pick in the 2024 draft, the shortstop is the Pirates’ top prospect in 2026. If the Pirates want to keep Griffin, a former World Series champion thinks Bob Nutting must become more proactive about it.

According to ESPN, the Pirates are willing to offer a deal similar to the one the Arizona Diamondbacks offered Corbin Carroll, an eight-year, $111 million deal. On the other hand, Griffin’s side is arguing for something closer to Roman Anthony’s eight-year, $130 million. Amid this ongoing negotiation, AJ Pierzynski on Foul Territory clearly stated that Nutting and the Pirates franchise must pay Griffin more if they believe he will be a key piece in the near future.

“He should get more,” remarked Pierzynski. “If he’s as good as the Pirates think he is, think he’s gonna be the face of the franchise, then he should get more than Roman Anthony. That’s how these things work. The guy before you set the bar, so the next guy gets more.”

Last season, the shortstop batted at .333 with a .942 OPS and 21 homers in 122 games in the minors. Griffin also batted well in Spring Training this season. He put together 4 homers in 41 at-bats in 16 games.

Though his recent performance was solid enough to fuel big league speculation, the Pirates ultimately optioned the 19-year-old to Triple-A.

Recent contract extensions to other shortstops should help Griffin in negotiations

Outside the Pirates world, the Mariners and the Brewers have also offered eight-year contract extensions to shortstops Colt Emerson and Cooper Pratt, respectively. While Pratt signed a $50 million contract with the Brewers, the Mariners agreed to a $95 million deal with Emerson.

These recent deals should help Griffin secure a bigger one, especially if the Pirates consider him as their top prospect.

Jim Bowden also shared a similar opinion on Foul Territory. He suggested that if Emerson gets $95 million, then Griffin should get $150-160 million in nine years.

“I think, if I’m Konnor Griffin, the cold Emerson deal just made me some money. Because I’m going to argue that the Colt Emerson deal that was negotiated by Seth and Sam Levinson of Aces, you know, I’m going to look at it as $130 million over nine years,” remarked Bowden. “And so, if you’re worth nine, $130, then my argument is Konnor Griffin’s now worth nine, $150 or $160 if he’s going to give that up, because he’s graded a lot higher in terms of how we project the players.”

Pierzynski, the 2005 World Series champion, also thinks the same as Bowden.

He put it simply as, “Pay the man, Bob. Pay the man his money.”

Having secured a talented prospect in Griffin, they will certainly need to pay him big money to persuade him to be a part of the franchise. As a young prospect, a lot of eyes will be on Griffin, but Nutting will have to get the deal over the line, as losing him would cost the team a lot.