2026 Transactions: Pirates Demote Griffin, Conforto & France Selected

Teams are beginning to make their final cuts, as several clubs now start to make their treks up north for the 2026 regular season. The Orioles optioned one of their top 2025 innings eaters on March 21. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, decided on what will be done with its top prospect, Konnor Griffin.

Contract selections

Ty France made the Padres’ roster, per the San Diego Union-Tribune.

France, a 2025 Gold Glove winner and on a Minor League deal with San Diego, had a great camp with the Padres. He slashed .319/.365/.532, and was tied for the team lead in hits (15) as of March 21.

Also, per the New York Times, Michael Conforto has made the Cubs’ Opening Day roster and will have his contract selected.

Conforto had nine hits in 11 games and will give the Cubs options as the team navigates a notable early-season injury.

The Yankees announced that outfielder Randal Grichuk will be added to the 40-man roster and start the year in The Bronx. Grichuk only batted .105 in the Grapefruit League slate. However, he’s a veteran right-handed hitter and can tandem in and out of the lineup alongside Trent Grisham.

Griffin reassigned

Pirates prospect Konnor Griffin will start the 2026 season in the Minors. Pittsburgh announced that Griffin was reassigned to Minor League camp.

Griffin held his own as a 19-year-old in big league Spring Training, as the infielder hit a team-high four home runs in the exhibition slate. However, it wasn’t the cleanest run, as Griffin struck out 13 times and walked just twice over 16 contests.

The 2024 first-round pick had a swing-and-miss rate slightly above 33% overall. He also whiffed on four-seam fastballs 33% of the time down in camp.

Additionally, the Pirates announced that outfielders Tyler Callihan and Jhostynxon Garcia were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Kremer, Campbell among options

Thanks to the Orioles walking into the year with a healthy rotation, Dean Kremer was sent to Triple-A Norfolk. Kremer struck out 10 and walked five over nine spring innings.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, optioned infielder Kristian Campbell to Triple-A Worcester.

Cincinnati optioned Rece Hinds and Zach Maxwell to Triple-A Louisville.

The Mets optioned catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A Syracuse.

Their in-town rival, the Yankees, optioned infielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Max Schuemann to Triple-A Scranton.

Cardinals pitcher Gordon Graceffo was demoted to Triple-A Memphis.