Five Notable Pittsburgh Pirates Extensions in Recent History

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a legitimate chance of extending top prospect Konnor Griffin before Opening Day. Griffin isn’t just the Pirates’ number one prospect, but the consensus number one prospect across the entire sport. According to Buster Olney, the Pirates and Griffin are deep into extension talks. Having Griffin on the Major League roster so early in the year gives their lineup a significant boost. However, it wouldn’t be the first time the Pirates extended a young player. They’ve done it plenty of times before, even to proven MLB talent. So let’s look at five notable examples in the Pirates’ recent history.

(Note that we’re only looking at completed extensions the Pirates handed out. So neither Bryan Reynolds’ extension, which he signed in 2023, nor Ke’Bryan Hayes’ extension, which he signed in 2022, will be included.

Gregory Polanco: Five Years, $60 Million

Gregory Polanco was one of the Pirates’ best prospects in the early 2010s. Heading into 2014, Polanco was a top 15 prospect on Baseball America (#13) and MLB Pipeline (#10). Although he struggled in 89 games in 2014, he made progress in 2015. On April 3rd, 2016, the Pirates signed Polanco to a five-year, $60 million guaranteed extension.

The first year of the contract worked out well for the Pirates. In 587 plate appearances, the young outfielder batted .258/.328/.463. He hit for plenty of power, going yard 22 times with a .205 isolated slugging percentage. Polanco walked in 9% of his plate appearances, while having a solid 20.3% strikeout rate. Overall, he posted a 106 wRC+. His defense was also quite strong in right field, with +4 defensive runs saved and +5 outs above average while racking up ten outfield assists.

Although Polanco struggled throughout 2017, both in terms of performance (81 wRC+) and health (he appeared in just 108 games), he had an outstanding rebound in 2018. Polanco slashed .254/.340/.499 with a .353 wOBA, and 123 wRC+. He topped his 2016 home run total, belting 23 long balls, with a .245 isolated slugging percentage. Polanco walked even more frequently, with an 11.4% BB%, while maintaining a solid 21.9% K%.

However, the strong momentum Polanco built up in 2018 came to a crashing stop in September. Polanco suffered a bone bruise in his right knee, which he would never fully recover from. He appeared in just 42 games in 2019. 2020 was the COVID-shortened 60-game season, where Polanco appeared in 50 games. He put up just a 63 wRC+ between 2019 and 2020. Polanco was healthy enough to play in 107 contests and step to the plate 382 times in 2021, but his performance wasn’t much better, with a 69 wRC+. The Pirates eventually released Polanco at the end of August, ending what once looked like a promising bargain. Polanco has since taken his talents to Japan.

Josh Harrison: Four Years, $27.3 Million

Josh Harrison had an explosive breakout season in 2014. Hitting .315/.347/.490 with a .365 wOBA, and 147 wRC+ over 550 plate appearances. The utility man went yard 13 times while also swiping 18 bags (and making some impressive baserunning highlights). While he only had a 4% walk rate, Harrison rarely struck out and had a 14.7% K%. On top of that, Harrison provided solid defense all around the infield. He saw playing time at third base, second base, shortstop, and both outfield corners. Finishing ninth in the National League MVP voting.

The Pirates then signed Harrison to a four-year, $27.3 million deal, guaranteed. While Harrison never replicated his 2014 season, he still became a solid player with the Pirates. Over the next three years, Harrison hit .280/.326/.404 with a 96 wRC+. He went yard 24 times in 1513 plate appearances, and swiped 41 bases. Harrison also continued to provide quality defense at second base, third base, left, and right field.

Harrison entered 2018 as the Pirates’ starting second baseman. However, he had his worst season at the plate since his breakout in 2014. Harrison only hit .250/.293/.363, leading to a wRC+ of just 77. Although the Pirates held an option for 2019 on Harrison, they instead decided to buy him out from the last year of his contract. Injuries also hindered his play. Harrison suffered a fractured hand after an HBP in mid-April. He wouldn’t return to the field until late May.

At the time, the Pirates had another up-and-coming utility infielder, Adam Frazier, ready to get a longer look in the Major Leagues, with top prospects like Cole Tucker, Kevin Newman, and Kevin Kramer ready to see Major League playing time. After 2018, Harrison suited up for the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies. He last appeared in an MLB game in 2023 and announced his retirement in May of last season.

Starling Marte: Six Years, $31 Million

Starling Marte became an instant sensation, and Andrew McCutchen and Polanco’s partners in crime in the outfield. After hitting a home run on the very first pitch he saw in the Major Leagues in 2012, Marte batted .280/.343/.441 with a 122 wRC+ in his first full season in the bigs. Marte smacked a dozen home runs and became one of baseball’s most prolific base stealers, swiping 41 bags. He was also a phenomenal defender, with +18 defensive runs saved. Marte spent most of his season in left field, but he occasionally got nods in center field.

Heading into the 2014 season, the Pirates rewarded the outfielder with a six-year contract at $31 million. Marte’s production with the Bucs was very similar to his 2013 campaign. From 2014 through 2019, Marte hit .290/.343/.454 with a 116 wRC+. His 186 stolen bases were the third most in baseball during this stretch. Marte’s outfield defense continued to be a strong suit, with +41 DRS and +9 OAA, with a +3.8 UZR/150. Marte won a Gold Glove in 2015 and 2016, while also representing the Pirates at the All-Star game in the latter season.

Unlike Polanco or Harrison, Marte did not play out his contract with the Pirates. He was the very first player that current Pirates general manager Ben Cherington traded. He was sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2019-2020 offseason in exchange for then-recent first-round pick Brennan Malone and infield prospect Liover Peguero. However, given that the 2020 season was only 60 games and the D-Backs were not competitive, Marte’s tenure in Arizona lasted only 33 games. The D-Backs then traded Marte to the Miami Marlins for three pitchers who wouldn’t be in the D-Backs’ organization by 2023.

Marte was also traded from the Marlins to the Oakland Athletics for Jesus Luzardo. His extension expired after 2021. Marte went on to sign a four-year contract with the New York Mets during the 2021-2022 offseason. Marte would go to the All-Star game for the second time in his career in 2022, but injuries would plague the final three seasons of his time in New York. While Polanco is playing in Japan, and Harrison has since retired, Marte is still active. He signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals this past offseason.

Andrew McCutchen: Six Years, $51.5 Million

Here’s the one everyone remembers. McCutchen was a budding star entering 2012. He put up +5.4 fWAR in 2011, while setting career-bests at the time in home runs (23), wRC+ (130), total bases (261), and making his first All-Star game. McCutchen signed a six-year, $51.5 million guaranteed deal in early March 2012. He rewarded the Pirates by becoming one of baseball’s best players.

From 2012 through 2017, McCutchen turned in a terrific .297/.386/.501 triple-slash, with a .379 wOBA, and 142 wRC+. The center fielder went yard 152 times while stealing 93 bases. Among batters with at least 3000 plate appearances over this six-season stretch, Cutch owned the ninth-best OPS, wOBA, and eighth-best wRC+. His +33.3 fWAR was the fourth most of any position player. Cutch was also in the top five in NL MVP voting every year from 2012 through 2015, taking home the award in 2013.