Head-shaking moment holds up Reds finalizing Chase Burns' contract

DENVER — The news about a new contract for Chase Burns has been out there for a while. However, a mishap on Saturday morning at Coors Field caused the contract signing to take even a little bit longer to become a reality.

News of a seven-year, $105 million contract for the Cincinnati Reds right-hander first broke on Thursday, a day before the Reds started the unofficial second half of the 2026 schedule against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. That contract was officially going to be signed on Saturday morning here in Denver, but an accident delayed the pen being put to paper.

What delayed the Chase Burns-Cincinnati Reds contract signing?

According to C. Trent Rosencrans, who covers the Reds for The Athletic, spilled coffee was the reason Burns had to wait a little longer to ink his deal.

Rosencrans said on social media about the Burns contract that, "Reds GM Brad Meador spilled coffee on it, and they had to print a new one." 

He later added that Burns is the one who shared the details of the spill and that Meador spills coffee "often."

What makes Chase Burns' contract with the Reds historic?

Now official, Burns' contract is the biggest ever handed out to a pitcher with less than four years of service time. It's also a huge statement on Cincinnati's belief in Burns, who went 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA in his 18 starts before the All-Star Game. 

The 23-year-old Burns has thrown just 146.0 innings in his MLB career after making his debut on June 24, 2025. Just under 13 months later, Burns is locked up to be one of the faces of the Reds for the near future.

While Burns may have signed his contract in Denver, he won't see time on the mound in the Mile High City. His next start is slated for Tuesday night when the Reds visit the Seattle Mariners.