Rising star pitcher Chase Burns agrees to a 7-year, $105 million extension with the Reds

Chase Burns, a shooting star in the baseball world, keeps dazzling with his brilliance. The Cincinnati Reds are clearly wagering that this 23-year-old starting pitcher will stay luminous for years to come. Per sources who informed MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Reds agreed with Burns on a seven-year, $105 million extension on Monday. The new contract runs from 2027 through 2033, with no team or player options and no deferred payments.

The Reds have not yet officially confirmed this news. Since being selected second overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, Burns made his major league debut in just two years and even pitched on the postseason mound. Just this week, he participated in his first All-Star Game. Now, the right-hander has secured a huge contract.

The guaranteed amount of Burns' new contract ties the highest ever for a Reds pitcher, and ranks third among all team contracts in terms of total value. In total dollars, it matches the 6-year, $105 million deal pitcher Homer Bailey signed in 2014. The largest investment in Reds history remains the 10-year, $225 million extension given to first baseman Joey Votto in 2012. In 2000, Ken Griffey Jr., acquired from the Cubs, also received a 9-year, $116.5 million contract.

So far this season, Burns has made 18 starts, pitching 102.2 innings with an 11-1 record and a 2.54 ERA. He is considered a strong contender for the National League Cy Young Award. After feeling tightness in his right groin while handling a wild pitch to cover home plate during a July 8 game against the Phillies, Burns chose not to pitch in Wednesday's All-Star Game. However, he is not expected to miss his next start.

Once officially announced, Burns will become the latest in a long line of young stars signing extensions this season. This list includes young talents such as the Pirates' Konnor Griffin, the Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt, the Tigers' Kevin McGonigle, and the Brewers' Cooper Pratt. Notably, Burns and McGonigle, who signed an 8-year, $150 million deal with the Tigers in April, share the same agency.

The Reds last signed a young pitcher to a long-term deal in 2023, when they locked up starting pitcher Hunter Greene with a 6-year, $53 million contract. That deal runs through 2028 and includes a $21 million club option for 2029. Of course, signing pitchers to long-term contracts carries inherent risks. The Reds clearly hope that this investment in Burns will completely avoid those pitfalls.

So, which young player might be next in line for an extension in Cincinnati? The answer could be Sal Stewart, Burns' All-Star teammate this year. As early as June, both Stewart and Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall expressed openness to locking up the 22-year-old first baseman/third baseman. However, no substantive contract talks have been reported yet. As one of the leading candidates for National League Rookie of the Year, Stewart has played 95 games this season, batting .256 with an .812 OPS, 19 home runs, and 65 RBIs. Stewart's agent Dan Lozano is the same agent who negotiated Votto's massive contract back in 2012.