Ben Cherington spoke this morning here at LECOM Park, discussing a variety of topics prior to the Pirates' game against the Red Sox:
• On Konnor Griffin's spring and the looming decision regarding where he begins the 2026 season: "He's been impressive, as we anticipated he would be. Knowing Konnor, the physical skills and who he is as a person, we anticipated that he would do good things in spring training, and he has. We believe that we have a responsibility as an organization with Konnor. He's got a chance to have a really, really good, long career, and it's our job to do everything we can to support him in being in the best spot possible to do that. Obviously, we want to try to marry that up with him helping the Pirates win as many games as possible, too. So that will continue to guide us. We're reminded all the time about, you know, spring training versus the entire body of work. Believe that spring training is a tiny slice of information, and we owe it to players to look at the entire body of work. In Konnor's case, there's 100 plate appearances above High-A, so that's important information, too. So, we'll see where this goes. But our job will be to put him in a position to have the longest, best career possible."
• Cherington said they haven't decided on Griffin staying in big-league camp: "Take it a day at a time. As we get a little bit deeper into March here, we will start to make decisions as we get closer and start to get organized, like the roster, and just continue to take that a day at a time."
• Cherington on if there is still a pursuit for additional acquisitions: "We have to be out there every day looking for ways to improve the roster. So is every other team. At the same time, we really believe in the group that we have. If the season was starting tomorrow, we feel really good about where we are. Believe we're in a strong position, but, of course, every day we got to be out there looking for more.”
THE ASYLUM
Cherington: 'A day at a time' with Griffin
Ben Cherington spoke this morning here at LECOM Park, discussing a variety of topics prior to the Pirates' game against the Red Sox:
• On Konnor Griffin's spring and the looming decision regarding where he begins the 2026 season: "He's been impressive, as we anticipated he would be. Knowing Konnor, the physical skills and who he is as a person, we anticipated that he would do good things in spring training, and he has. We believe that we have a responsibility as an organization with Konnor. He's got a chance to have a really, really good, long career, and it's our job to do everything we can to support him in being in the best spot possible to do that. Obviously, we want to try to marry that up with him helping the Pirates win as many games as possible, too. So that will continue to guide us. We're reminded all the time about, you know, spring training versus the entire body of work. Believe that spring training is a tiny slice of information, and we owe it to players to look at the entire body of work. In Konnor's case, there's 100 plate appearances above High-A, so that's important information, too. So, we'll see where this goes. But our job will be to put him in a position to have the longest, best career possible."
• Cherington said they haven't decided on Griffin staying in big-league camp: "Take it a day at a time. As we get a little bit deeper into March here, we will start to make decisions as we get closer and start to get organized, like the roster, and just continue to take that a day at a time."
• Cherington on if there is still a pursuit for additional acquisitions: "We have to be out there every day looking for ways to improve the roster. So is every other team. At the same time, we really believe in the group that we have. If the season was starting tomorrow, we feel really good about where we are. Believe we're in a strong position, but, of course, every day we got to be out there looking for more.”
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