The Cincinnati Reds extended pitcher Chase Burns to a 13-year contract worth $765 million, Jon Morosi reported Thursday. The deal is the largest guarantee for any pitcher in Major League Baseball history, exceeding Shohei Ohtani's $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers by $65 million and dwarfing the Reds' previous franchise record—Joey Votto's 10-year, $225 million extension signed in 2012.
Burns, 22, made his major league debut in April 2024 and earned his first All-Star selection this season. The right-hander posted a 2.91 ERA across 19 starts with 147 strikeouts in 111.1 innings before the break. Cincinnati drafted Burns second overall in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest, signing him for $9.2 million. The extension buys out three arbitration years and 10 free-agent seasons, locking Burns through his age-34 season in 2037. The average annual value of $58.85 million places Burns ahead of Gerrit Cole ($36 million AAV) and Max Scherzer ($43.3 million AAV at signing) on a per-year basis, though Ohtani's deferred structure complicates direct comparison.
The move signals a franchise pivot for Cincinnati, which has not exceeded a $130 million opening-day payroll since 2020 and ranked 26th in MLB spending in 2024 at $104 million. Ownership, led by Bob Castellini and his family trust, committed to the extension despite the Reds' 76-86 record last season and a farm system ranked 18th by Baseball America entering 2025. The Burns deal accounts for nearly 45% of the Reds' current payroll and will require corresponding moves to stay under the $241 million competitive balance tax threshold in 2026. The front office, led by president of baseball operations Nick Krall, now faces decisions on arbitration-eligible players Brandon Williamson and Hunter Greene, both of whom are projected to earn a combined $18 million in 2026.
The extension also resets the market for controllable pitching. Burns had three years of team control remaining before free agency in 2028. By locking him now, Cincinnati avoids a potential $50 million arbitration award in his final pre-free-agent year—a figure comparable to Jacob deGrom's final Mets arbitration salary of $17 million in 2019, adjusted for inflation. The Reds also preempt a bidding war with franchises capable of absorbing $400 million deals, including the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets, all of whom have expressed interest in young pitching since 2023. The deal includes a full no-trade clause and escalators tied to Cy Young voting, which could push total value above $800 million if Burns finishes in the top three in balloting more than twice.
Cincinnati's front office spent $2.7 million on independent medical reviews before finalizing the contract, contracting orthopedic specialists from the Andrews Sports Medicine Institute and Kerlan-Jobe Clinic to evaluate Burns' elbow and shoulder. The team also restructured its player-development budget, reallocating $6 million annually from international scouting to biomechanics and recovery infrastructure at its Goodyear, Arizona, spring training facility. The Burns extension follows a broader MLB trend: since 2022, teams have signed 11 players to deals exceeding $200 million before arbitration eligibility, up from three such deals in the prior decade.
Watch for the Reds to address third base and center field before the July 31 trade deadline. The front office has engaged the Miami Marlins on outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the Kansas City Royals on third baseman Maikel Garcia, according to sources with direct knowledge. Both players are under team control through 2028 and would cost minimal salary against the Burns contract. Cincinnati also plans to expand its player-marketing operation, hiring a senior vice president of brand partnerships by August to capitalize on Burns' social media presence—1.2 million Instagram followers—and negotiate endorsement deals with national brands. Early discussions with Nike and Gatorade are underway.
The contract was negotiated by Scott Boras, who also represents Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer. Boras extracted opt-out clauses at years five and eight, giving Burns the ability to renegotiate if he outperforms projections. The structure is similar to Bryce Harper's $330 million deal with Philadelphia, which included escalators and no opt-outs but carried a higher present-day value due to inflation. Cincinnati ownership approved the deal during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, with Castellini's son Phil, the team's chief operating officer, leading negotiations alongside Krall.
The extension also reshapes the American League Central spending hierarchy. The Cleveland Guardians, who lead the division, carry a $92 million payroll and have not signed a player to a deal exceeding $100 million since 2016. The Reds' commitment to Burns establishes a new floor for contention in the division and forces rivals to respond. Cleveland is evaluating extensions for shortstop Brayan Rocchio and outfielder Steven Kwan, both of whom enter arbitration in 2026. The Chicago White Sox, rebuilding after a 101-loss season, are not expected to compete for high-end free agents but may accelerate prospect promotions to match Cincinnati's timeline.
The Reds open a three-game series against the Guardians on Friday at Great American Ball Park. Burns is scheduled to start the opener.
The takeaway
Cincinnati's **$765M** Burns deal resets pitcher market, forces rival extensions, and commits half the payroll to one arm through 2037.
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