The Cincinnati Reds and star right-hander Chase Burns agreed to a seven-year, $105 million contract extension, the club announced Saturday.
Burns, 23, received the largest guarantee of any pitcher in MLB history with less than four years of service time. The deal, which begins next season and runs through 2033, includes a $2 million signing bonus. There are no options or deferred money.
"It doesn't feel real yet," Burns told The Cincinnati Enquirer. "I'm sure here soon, next year and the year after,
it'll start hitting me.
"God can get you an opportunity, and he can also take it away. The biggest thing is staying humble, staying hungry."
The second overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, Burns has excelled in his first full season since debuting in 2025, when he appeared in 13 games.
He is 11-1 through 18 starts for Cincinnati, tied for second behind Milwaukee's Aaron Ashby (12-2) in wins. Burns ranks fifth in the majors among qualified pitchers in ERA (2.54) and has amassed 118 strikeouts versus 37 walks. Opposing batters have hit just .206 against him. Burns is next scheduled to start Tuesday on the road against the Seattle Mariners.
"We think the sky's the limit for him," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said of Burns. "We know he works his butt off. He's trying to get better. He's a young pitcher in the big leagues, so he's still developing and he's been pretty successful in developing at this level."
The deal gives the Reds a formidable one-two punch atop the rotation. The club agreed to a $53 million, six-year contract with right-hander Hunter Greene in 2023.
"We're going to build something great here. I think we have a great set of guys," said Burns. "I think we're going to keep getting better every year and that's the end goal, to win a championship."
Manager Terry Francona praised the deal and the Reds' confidence in their young ace.
"It's exciting for Chase," Francona said. "As far as the organization goes, I think it sends a great message. It's a really good thing."
With an average roster age of 28.5, per ESPN, the Reds boast a talented young core.
"We love our core group, and we do think that they've got a lot of talent," Krall said. " We've tried to lock a few guys up over the years, and we're successful with Chase and Hunter. We think this is a really good building block to build on for the future."
Saturday's signing was delayed slightly after a cup of coffee was spilled on the contract before Burns could put his signature on it. A new copy was printed, and the deal was consummated.
Burns earned his first All-Star Game nod this year, though he did not appear for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game. Burns cited a minor groin injury for pulling out of the game. He last pitched on July 8.
--Field Level Media
