{"id":659271,"date":"2026-04-02T18:11:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T18:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/659271\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T18:11:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T18:11:16","slug":"five-notable-pittsburgh-pirates-extensions-in-recent-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/659271\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Notable Pittsburgh Pirates Extensions in Recent History"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a legitimate chance of extending top prospect Konnor Griffin before Opening Day. Griffin isn\u2019t just the Pirates\u2019 number one prospect, but the consensus number one prospect across the entire sport. According to Buster Olney<\/a>, 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<\/a>. However, it wouldn\u2019t be the first time the Pirates extended a young player. They\u2019ve done it plenty of times before, even to proven MLB talent. So let\u2019s look at five notable examples in the Pirates\u2019 recent history.<\/p>\n

(Note that we\u2019re only looking at completed extensions the Pirates handed out. So neither Bryan Reynolds\u2019<\/a> extension, which he signed in 2023, nor Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes\u2019<\/a> extension, which he signed in 2022, will be included.<\/p>\n

Gregory Polanco: Five Years, $60 Million<\/p>\n

Gregory Polanco<\/a> was one of the Pirates\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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%.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

Josh Harrison: Four Years, $27.3 Million<\/p>\n

Josh Harrison<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Harrison entered 2018 as the Pirates\u2019 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\u2019t return to the field until late May.<\/p>\n

At the time, the Pirates had another up-and-coming utility infielder, Adam Frazier<\/a>, ready to get a longer look in the Major Leagues, with top prospects like Cole Tucker<\/a>, Kevin Newman<\/a>, and Kevin Kramer<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Starling Marte: Six Years, $31 Million<\/p>\n

Starling Marte<\/a> became an instant sensation, and Andrew McCutchen<\/a> and Polanco\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Heading into the 2014 season, the Pirates rewarded the outfielder with a six-year contract at $31 million. Marte\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s tenure in Arizona lasted only 33 games. The D-Backs then traded Marte to the Miami Marlins for three pitchers who wouldn\u2019t be in the D-Backs\u2019 organization by 2023.<\/p>\n

Marte was also traded from the Marlins to the Oakland Athletics for Jesus Luzardo<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

Andrew McCutchen: Six Years, $51.5 Million<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s 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\u2019s best players.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"EveryOctober 1, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) doubles against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at PNC Park. The Pittsburgh Pirates won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

McCutchen also did not play out his extension with the Pirates. The Bucs traded him in the 2017-2018 offseason to the San Francisco Giants for two prospects: right-handed pitcher Kyle Crick and outfielder Bryan Reynolds. The Giants soon traded McCutchen to the New York Yankees during the August waiver trade deadline.<\/p>\n

McCutchen\u2019s contract expired after 2018. He then signed a three-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. After one season with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022, the Pirates re-signed McCutchen before the 2023 season. Cutch signed one-year deals with the Pirates for 2024 and 2025, but the Bucs opted to move on from the former superstar and fan favorite this past winter. However, Cutch is still playing, serving as a right-handed-hitting DH complement to Joc Pederson for the Texas Rangers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jason Kendall: Six Years, $60 Million<\/p>\n

Jason Kendall\u2019s<\/a> extension stood as the Pirates\u2019 most expensive contract until they extended Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes to a $70 million contract in 2022. When the Pirates signed Kendall, he was one of baseball\u2019s best catchers. From 1996 through 2000, Kendall hit .296\/.402\/.456 with a 125 wRC+. Kendall only struck out at a 9.1% rate and drew a free pass 9.4% of the time. He had speed that backstops don\u2019t usually have, and swiped 93 bases. This included 20+ stolen base seasons in 1998, 1999, and 2000. The catcher also had a .142 ISO. Kendall wasn\u2019t much of a defensive catcher, though he had a solid 30.9% caught stealing rate.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Kendall\u2019s bat would take a downturn after the ink dried. Over the next four years, he slashed .296\/.371\/.380 with a 101 wRC+. Kendall struck out less frequently, with a 6.1% K%, but also walked at a lower rate of 7.8%. Any power he showed off before also dissipated. Kendall wouldn\u2019t put up an ISO over .100 after 2000, with just a .082 mark from 2001 through 2004.<\/p>\n

After 2004, the Pirates traded Kendall to the Oakland Athletics for starting pitcher Mark Redman<\/a> and left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes<\/a>. Kendall would serve as the Athletics\u2019 primary catcher from 2005 until the 2007 trade deadline. That\u2019s when the Athletics shipped Kendall to the Chicago Cubs.<\/p>\n

Kendall would then sign a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers for 2008 and 2009. He would finish out his career in 2010 with the Kansas City Royals. Interestingly, Kendall is still the last Royals catcher to spend 100+ games behind the dish who isn\u2019t named Salvador Perez<\/a>. Perez was a top 20 prospect in the Royals\u2019 system during Kendall\u2019s last year in the Major Leagues, and would eventually take over full-time catching duties for the Royals in 2013.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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