The Pittsburgh Pirates delivered the single most inspiring move in recent franchise history on Thursday afternoon, signing 19-year-old prospect and NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner Konnor Griffin to a nine-year, $140 million contract — the most ever for a player with zero MLB experience under his belt. In Friday’s home opener against Baltimore, Griffin will become the first teenager to debut in the Majors since Juan Soto in 2018.

There is a lot of excitement about Griffin’s call-up and the future in Pittsburgh, and rightfully so. But we also know Bob Nutting has his hard limits as an owner, so any investment of this size will lead to cuts down the road. Some marginal. Others potentially quite big. Let’s dive into potential casualties of the Pirates’ landmark investment:

Enmanuel Valdez, 2B

Enmanuel Valdez has not gone without his moments three years of sporadic MLB play, but a brutal 2-for-26 spring training stint basically iced him out of Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster. Now, Griffin is getting his call-up and figures to start full-time at shortstop. With Brandon Lowe, Spencer Horwitz, Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo still in the infield mix, too, there just isn’t room for Valdez. He’s under club control for a few more years, but Pittsburgh won’t keep him on the 40-man that long.

Nick Yorke, IF/OF

Former Red Sox first-round pick Nick Yorke has struggled to translate his swing with the Pirates so far. He can switch between a handful of positions, which helps, but he’s not particularly adept with his glove. He hit .287 in Triple-A last season — and .355 the season prior. Yorke has real contact skills, he’s just trying to tap into them in the Majors. Unfortunately, patience could run thin now that Pittsburgh is embracing a win-now mindset. There’s one less infield spot to go around.

Jared Triolo, INF

Pittsburgh has used Jared Triolo all over the infield with consistent success. He’s one of the few bright spots on a dire defensive roster. That said, ever since a promising rookie season in 2023, the bat has steadily fallen off. Triolo can work a count but he doesn’t generate much hard contact, despite what on the surface is a strong, intimidating 6-foot-3 frame. The glove and versatility will keep him around a while longer, but Triolo hits free agency in a few years and probably won’t last as Pittsburgh’s next generation rises to the surface.

Nick Gonzales, INF

Nick Gonzales is under contract through 2029 and should continue to factor into the Pirates’ infield equation for now, probably competing with Jared Triolo for the third base job. Gonzales is doing more at the plate so far, although Triolo’s underlying metrics are notably stronger. It’s early, so that “battle” could break in either direction, but Gonzales has respect in the Buccos organization. He’s another quality defender, which Pittsburgh can always use. Long term, though, the bat does not pop enough to merit a career spent in Steel City.

Marcell Ozuna, DH

Marcell Ozuna inked a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Pirates, which includes a $16 million mutual option for 2027. He’s probably one-and-done, as older DH types don’t typically have the longest shelf life when it comes to staying in one spot. Just ask Andrew McCutchen (sorry, Pittsbugh fans). Ozuna still has a gorgeous swing and the sort of natural power the Pirates need, but Griffin should bring plenty of thump of his own. Ozuna is expendable.

Brandon Lowe, 2B

Brandon Lowe has done nothing but rake so far in Pittsburgh. He hammered two home runs on Opening Day and is already up to three dingers on the young season. His .333 average and 1.343 OPS won’t hold obviously, but Lowe’s compact swing generates so much leverage and pull-side power. The man won’t slow done much. With Griffin joining the middle of this Pirates order, or potentially batting leadoff ahead of Lowe, we should see Pittsburgh’s collective run output start to perk up. That is an incredible duo in the middle of an infield.

That said, there’s a reason the Rays were willing to dump Lowe in Pittsburgh this offseason. He’s on an expiring contract and, in his age-32 season, the Pirates will need to think long and hard about how much — and how long — to commit to Lowe as a free agent. The upcoming CBA negotiations and the potential for a lockout won’t help Lowe’s cause either. Pittsburgh has proven more willing to spend than normal, true. But asking Bob Nutting to give years to mid-30s Brandon Lowe might be a bridge too far, especially if Griffin is the one-man machine so many expect him to be.

Mitch Keller, RHP

Mitch Keller has become a staple in trade rumors these past couple years, but Pittsburgh continues to keep him around. He’s one of the few Bucs to land a sizable long-term deal before this recent spending spree. Keller is technically under contract through 2028 and he aligns, now more than ever, with their competitive timeline. Still, there’s a good chance he doesn’t survive until the end of his deal in a Pirates uniform, much less beyond it.

The next generation of Pirates pitching is here already. Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler are shoving. Jared Jones should return from elbow surgery this season. Hunter Barco is in the bullpen, but could be stretched out soon enough. So Keller feels more and more expendable, just as a value proposition. Every contender needs solid, mid-tier starters who can eat innings and stabilize. Keller does those things well, so Pittsburgh ought to cash in before he can walk.

Oneil Cruz, OF

Oneil Cruz’s no good, very bad Opening Day performance in center field put an early stain on his reputation for 2026. Look beyond the ugly errors in New York, however, and Cruz is off to a promising start. He’s hitting .304 with three home runs and a 1.029 OPS. The defensive metrics aren’t great, but his arm keeps him semi-useful out there.

Is this all just noise, though? Here’s the thing: Cruz’s 41.7 percent strikeout rate is a glaring red flag. He has always struggled with the contact side of hitting. Nobody doubts Cruz’s ability to launch a baseball into orbit, but how frequently he’s able to do so is another matter entirely. The numbers will come back down to earth just as quick as they exploded if Cruz can’t start to work counts with a bit more intention.

A free agent come 2029, Cruz is an extension candidate in theory. He’s making $3.3 million this season, which seems impossibly low for such a major talent. That said, until the Buccos can actually trust Cruz to put his immense physical gifts to proper use at the plate or in the field, he’s simply too volatile for the sort of investment Griffin just received.

Paul Skenes, RHP

Life comes at you fast. Pittsburgh only has Paul Skenes under lock and key for another four years, including 2026. That feels like forever, but it’s not. And while the Pirates were able to hammer out an extension for Griffin, there’s almost zero chance Skenes accepts anything remotely similar. He has shown too much already; he’s got a Cy Young award on his shelf and he’ll probably win a couple more at this rate. Pittsburgh has the best pitcher in the National League and ownership knows, in its heart of hearts, this is a three- to four-year window. There’s no way the Bucs can afford Skenes on the open market in 2030.

At least, that’s the way it feels. Who knows how the next four years go exactly. Ironically, though, the Griffin contract — the exact sort of deal Pittsburgh fans clamored for with Skenes for so long — probably means their ace is out the door when his current deal expires. The Pirates will have too much money wrapped up in Griffin and other future long-term signings (Bubba Chandler? Jared Jones?), all of whom will come at a much cheaper rate than Skenes currently commands.

Skenes’ departure has been written in the stars ever since Pittsburgh called him up, honestly. But now, we know the future leans more on Griffin than Skenes. That’s not necessarily the worst thing, but it’s time for Pirates fans to accept reality.

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