Pirates Lock Down Stars, Aim for Playoffs

0:00On April 8th, the Pittsburgh pirates are stacking their roster with stars, locking in shortstop Connor Griffin to a nine-year extension worth one, $140 million, or up to $150 million with escalators. That's the biggest deal in franchise history, keeping their young phenom locked down long term, right alongside ace Paul Schienes, who's already the top, pitcher, and baseball. This comes after a wild winter for the pirates, loaded with trades and free agent pickups that signal a real shift from their old penny-pinching ways. They're all in now, on building a squad ready to chase playoffs and make noise. Fans and players are buzzing, especially Schienes, the 23-year-old who snagged the National League side young last year. He grew up dreaming of winning in Pittsburgh, and seized these moves as proof, the team's turning the corner toward real contention. Griffin's pack builds on that momentum, extending the hot streak of smart investments the front office has been on for months. It's got everyone believing in a brighter future.

1:00With towns like these in the fold, the pirates are positioning themselves to dominate the NL Central for years. Watch this squad rise up. From around the league, powered by AI, this is MLB News Today. I'm Corey with The Story.