BREAKING NEWS: Cincinnati Reds EXTEND Chase Burns with $105 Mil Contract! MLB News, Trade Deadline

Nick Kirby and Mike Hart give INSTANT REACTION to the Cincinnati Reds extending Chase Burns!

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Chase Burns Signs Seven-Year, $105 Million Extension With Cincinnati Reds Through 2033

The Cincinnati Reds have made one of the biggest moves in franchise history, agreeing to a seven-year, $105 million contract extension with ace right-hander Chase Burns. The new deal keeps one of Major League Baseball's brightest young stars in Cincinnati through the 2033 season and signals the organization's commitment to building around its young core.

Burns was already under team control through the 2031 season, but the extension buys out all of his remaining arbitration years while adding two additional seasons before he would have reached free agency. There are no reported club or player options in the agreement, giving both sides long-term certainty.

For the Reds, this is more than just a contract extension. It's a statement that the organization believes Burns is the face of its pitching staff for years to come.

At just 23 years old, Burns has quickly developed into one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. After making his major league debut in 2025, he has taken a massive leap forward during his first full MLB season in 2026. Through 18 starts, Burns owns a dominant 2.54 ERA while consistently giving Cincinnati a chance to win every fifth day.

His combination of velocity, command, and swing-and-miss stuff has made him one of the most electric young pitchers in the sport. Burns has struck out hitters at an elite rate while limiting hard contact, an impressive accomplishment considering he pitches half of his games at Great American Ball Park, one of baseball's most hitter-friendly stadiums.

The Reds selected Burns with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest after one of the most dominant collegiate careers in recent memory. His professional development moved quickly, as he reached the major leagues less than one year after being drafted.

While his rookie season in 2025 featured some growing pains, the talent was obvious from the beginning. Burns posted an impressive strikeout rate, regularly overpowered opposing hitters, and finished the season on a dominant stretch that hinted at what was to come.

That momentum carried into 2026, where Burns has firmly established himself as the ace of Cincinnati's rotation.

One of the biggest reasons for Burns' success is his elite arsenal. His fastball averages nearly 98 miles per hour and routinely reaches triple digits. The pitch alone makes him difficult to square up, but it's his devastating slider that separates him from many other young starters.

The slider has become one of the most effective pitches in baseball, generating swings and misses against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. Burns also continues to develop his changeup, giving him another weapon to keep opposing lineups off balance.

The results have been outstanding. Right-handed hitters have struggled to make consistent contact against him, while left-handed hitters have found little success despite facing him more frequently. Burns has shown the ability to pitch deep into games while maintaining his velocity, another trait that projects well for the future.

The extension is also significant because of where the Reds are as an organization.

Over the past several years, Cincinnati has focused heavily on building through the draft and player development. Players like Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Hunter Greene, Noelvi Marte, Sal Stewart, Edwin Arroyo, and Chase Burns represent the foundation of the franchise moving forward.

Rather than allowing Burns to eventually test free agency, the Reds made the decision to lock up one of the game's premier young pitchers before his price could climb even higher.

For a small-market franchise, keeping elite homegrown talent has always been one of the biggest challenges. This contract demonstrates that Cincinnati is willing to invest in its own stars when it believes they are cornerstone players.

The deal also gives the organization valuable payroll certainty over the next seven seasons. Instead of navigating increasingly expensive arbitration salaries, the Reds now know exactly what Burns will earn through the 2033 season. That financial clarity should help the front office plan future roster moves while keeping its championship window open.

From Burns' perspective, the extension provides long-term security at an early stage of his career. Pitchers always carry injury risk, making guaranteed money especially valuable. Burns now has financial stability while remaining with the organization that believed in him enough to draft him second overall.

It also allows him to continue building his legacy in Cincinnati.