The Cincinnati Reds have secured one of baseball’s brightest young pitchers for the long term, agreeing to a seven-year, $105 million contract extension with right-hander Chase Burns. The $105 million guarantee matches the largest pitching contract in franchise history, equaling Homer Bailey’s previous mark.
The deal, which runs through the 2033 season, contains no club options or deferred money and represents the largest guaranteed contract ever awarded to a pitcher with fewer than four years of major league service time. The deal also delays Burns’ expected free agency by two seasons after he was originally on track to reach the open market following the 2031 campaign.
Burns, 23, has quickly emerged as one of the sport’s elite young starters during a breakout 2026 season. The former Wake Forest standout and No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft earned his first All-Star selection after posting an 11-1 record with a 2.54 ERA through 18 starts. He has struck out 118 batters while limiting opponents to a .206 batting average, establishing himself as an early Cy Young Award contender in just his second major league season.
The extension also reflects the Reds’ commitment to building around homegrown talent and gives the club another long-term cornerstone alongside fellow starter Hunter Greene. Although Cincinnati entered the All-Star break trailing in the National League Central standings, the long-term commitment to Burns signals the club’s confidence that its young core can contend in future seasons.
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