Reds fans may need to rethink who’s next in line for a contract extension

There are only two players in the Cincinnati Reds organization who are signed beyond the 2025 season — Hunter Greene and Jose Trevino. While players like Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Nick Lodolo are under team control, the Reds have yet to sign them — or anyone else for that matter — to long-term deals.

Heading into the season, many fans were hoping to see De La Cruz or McLain inked to a contract extension. Tyler Stephenson's name has come up from time to time as well, and of late, Andrew Abbott has garnered a lot of fan support to be the next Reds player signed to a long-term contract.

After watching Chase Burns' MLB debut on Tuesday night, however, Reds fans might be singing a different tune. While the list of potential core players is a long one, Burns may quickly rise to the top.

Will Chase Burns be the next Reds player in line for long-term contract extension?

Obviously, one game does not a career make, but Burns' Major League debut was pretty special. The fireballer went five innings against one of the most potent lineups in baseball — the New York Yankees — and sat down the first five batters he faced via the strikeout.

Burns allowed a second-inning single to Jazz Chisholm Jr., and then retired the next Yankees' hitter with a punch out. In total, Burns racked up eight Ks and allowed three runs while covering five innings and is scheduled to head to the hill once again next Monday against the Boston Red Sox.

If Burns is as good as many believe him to be, then Cincinnati should start negotiating a long-term deal right now. Another highly-regarded pitcher, who just completed his rookie season in 2024, is already be bandied about in trade talks.

Paul Skenes, who was fast-tracked to the big leagues much like Burns, is already seen as a trade chip by many opposing GMs. While the Pittsburgh Pirates have maintained that he won't be traded, his long-term situation in the Steel City is up for debate, and his contract demands are only going up.

Reds fans have already heard those same discussions when it comes to De La Cruz, and if Cincinnati wants to shut down those rumors quickly, they'd do well to agree to a long-term deal with Burns sooner rather than later.

The flamethrower is a phenomenal talent, and though he's under team control through at least 2031, the earlier teams — especially small market clubs like the Reds — extend these types of players, the better (and cheaper) it is.

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