How Mariners may have screwed over Pirates with Colt Emerson's extension

Mariners ownership has often been tarred with the reputation of not investing enough money into building a successful team, although this hasn't always been entirely fair or accurate. Pirates ownership on the other hand, has repeatedly short-changed their fanbase over the years, and you have to wonder if they're royally pissed at John Stanton and company following events on Tuesday.

The Mariners blindsided everyone — including their own fans — by signing Colt Emerson to a massive contract extension for eight years, which also includes a ninth-year club option. However, the part which will have really grabbed the attention of Robert Nutting and the rest of the folks in Pittsburgh, is that the deal is worth a minimum of $95 million and can eventually exceed $130 million.

Konnor Griffin is surely worth more than Colt Emerson

This is the largest ever contract signed by a player who has yet to make their Major League debut, and now the pressure's on the Pirates with Konnor Griffin, who they decided to call to the majors on Thursday morning. If Emerson is worth $95 million as the No. 7 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, then Griffin is surely worth at least $100 million as the No. 1 overall prospect.

The Pirates have only ever done one $100 million deal in their history, with Bryan Reynolds in 2023. However, while Griffin is arguably worth similar treatment, it's not quite as straightforward as it might seem, just based on how the organization has been run financially since Nutting took over as the principal owner in 2007.

Criticism from the Pirates fanbase centers around the team ranking in the bottom five for Opening Day payroll in 16 of Nutting's 20 seasons in charge. And as much as you can acknowledge being a small-market team doesn't help, with a net worth exceeding $1 billion he's earned the nickname of "Bottom-Line Bob" in Pittsburgh over the years.

A bigger gamble for the Pirates compared to the Mariners

Plenty of people have said the Mariners are taking a gamble in paying Emerson so much, with no big league service time to his name. However, this is not the same level of risk the Pirates would have taken in betting on another prospect yet to play in the majors, and who additionally has only one full season of minor league experience.

In fairness to the Pirates, they do seem to be taking the matter with Griffin seriously, at least based on a report by Buster Olney of ESPN. The two sides have been talking since early in spring training, with the organization's proposals closer in range to the eight-year, $111 million deal Corbin Carroll signed with the Diamondbacks in 2023.

Heading into this week, you'd have thought a deal worth $111 million would have appealed to Griffin's camp. This would have represented nearly $30 million more than the last pre-debut record of $82 million (also at eight years), signed by Jackson Chourio with the Brewers back in December 2023.

Mariners have now raised the bar for the Pirates and the rest of Major League Baseball

Between Cooper Pratt's eight-year, $50.75 million deal as the No. 62 prospect in baseball (also with the Brewers) and Emerson's extension, something is clearly up. As Griffin is the best prospect in baseball and the Pirates may never have a better shot at signing him, he has every reason to keep pushing hard after his promotion.

As much as a Carroll-type deal might be reasonable and still a case of the Pirates shattering their franchise record for a player who's yet to play in the majors, Griffin's apparently not having it. According to Olney, his side is angling for something closer to the eight-year, $130 million deal Roman Anthony signed with the Red Sox last year, with is a considerable gap of nearly an extra $20 million.

It isn't a reach to suggest Emerson's deal and position as a lower-rated prospect has empowered Griffin's camp to shoot for the stars, with the bar now being raised when it comes to determining the worth of inexperienced yet top-end prospects. As such, don't anticipate the Mariners being high on the Pirates' Christmas card list or indeed for teams in general, with this having the makings of a tipping point ahead of next year's expected lockout by the owners.