Reds Make Massive Chase Burns Announcement

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Reds Make Massive Chase Burns Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Thomas Kelson | Last updated Jul 16, 2026 1:13 PM ET

The Cincinnati Reds are locking up one of the most exciting young arms in baseball for the long haul.

Before the start of the second half of the season, the Reds are reportedly signing starting pitcher Chase Burns to a seven-year, $105 million contract extension. Jon Morosi of MLB Network was first to report the news.

The deal is tied for the largest guaranteed contract given to a pitcher in franchise history, matching the one Homer Bailey signed in 2014. It's also monumental for young pitchers across baseball. Burns' extension is the largest guaranteed contract ever given to a pitcher with fewer than four years of MLB service time.

Source: Chase Burns & Reds are in agreement on 7-year, $105 million extension. Deal was negotiated by Greg Genske & Erik Castro of Vayner Sports and is largest guarantee given to a pitcher with less than 4 years of MLB service. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 16, 2026

In just his second major league season, Burns has already climbed into the conversation as one of the best starters in baseball. He earned his first All-Star selection after going 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA over 102.2 innings. He has struck out 118 batters while holding opponents to a .206 batting average.

The 23-year-old is also firmly in the mix for the National League Cy Young award alongside Jacob Misiorowski and Cristopher Sánchez.

Cincinnati selected Burns with the second overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest just two years ago. Like Paul Skenes, Burns was one of the most dominant college pitchers of the last 50 years. During his final collegiate season, he struck out 191 batters, the most in Wake Forest history.

This is the second massive extension the Reds have handed out to a starting pitcher in the last few years. Cincinnati signed Hunter Greene to a six-year, $53 million extension in 2023.

With Burns and Greene leading the rotation for years to come, the Reds have one of the best one-two punches in baseball. If Cincinnati reaches the postseason, no team will want to face that duo in a short series.

Burns will make his first start under the new extension on Tuesday when the Reds travel west to face the Seattle Mariners.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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