What happened: Chase Burns signed a seven-year, $105 million extension with the Reds, a deal that runs through 2033 with no club options. The contract is the largest guaranteed deal for a pitcher with less than four years of major league service, according to Jon Morosi. Burns enters this season as a Cy Young candidate.
Why it matters: The extension locks Cincinnati's rotation anchor into place through 2033, removing years of arbitration and free-agency negotiation before they start. Burns' emergence as a Cy Young candidate gave him extraordinary leverage well ahead of his first arbitration case, the same extension Rosenthal and Rizzo previewed on Fair Territory.
By the numbers: The deal averages $15 million annually over seven years with no club options — the largest guarantee on record for a pitcher with fewer than four years of MLB service time.
What to watch: Burns is set to remain the Reds' rotation anchor through the 2033 season as Cincinnati builds its pitching staff around the extension.