Around 2019, the Atlanta Braves started a trend with Ronald Acuña Jr.'s contract extension, which many other teams have picked up on. The outfielder signed an eight-year, $100 million deal with Atlanta that bought out his arbitration years and then some at a team-friendly rate.
The Boston Red Sox followed, signing Ceddanne Rafaela, Brayan Bello, Kristian Campbell and Roman Anthony to long-term deals with a similar goal. The Milwaukee Brewers have jumped on the trend as well, going so far as to sign players who haven't made their big league debut yet. The Cincinnati Reds are the latest to partake.
The Reds on July 16 signed 23-year-old pitcher Chase Burns to a seven-year, $105 million contract, first reported by Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Burns debuted for the Redlegs in the middle of last season, which was unfortunately cut short due to a flexor injury, but his 2.54 ERA, 1.110 WHIP and 118 strikeouts over 102.2 innings this season gave them plenty of reason to sign him to an early extension.
The Red Sox haven't signed any of their young players long-term contracts this year but they have no shortage of talent deserving of such a deal. Connelly Early, Jake Bennett and Payton Tolle are three great candidates, but Tolle is probably the best of them. The Burns deal could serve as a blueprint for a Tolle extension with Boston.
Reds' Chase Burns contract extension could serve as blueprint for future Red Sox-Payton Tolle deal
Tolle has posted a 3.11 ERA, 1.071 WHIP, 87 strikeouts and 25 walks over 84 innings after a rocky start in the big leagues last season. His elite extension, strike-throwing talent, in-game intensity and infectious personality make him an ideal extension candidate and a potential foundational arm in Boston's future rotations.
Shortly after the 2025 season began, the Red Sox agreed to a six-year, $170 million extension with Garrett Crochet, showing the team is willing to put that kind of trust in a young pitcher. Tolle is younger with less of a winning track record than Crochet has — if the Red Sox were to offer him a long-term deal, it'll probably be closer to the price and timeline of Burns' deal with Cincinnati.
The Red Sox haven't had the best luck with their early extension candidates: Anthony has been injured since May 5 while Campbell and Bello are in Triple-A. Their payroll has also increased rather significantly over the last two seasons due to their long-term deals, so adding another to the mix might be far in the back of the front office's mind.
But if the Sox ever move to sign Tolle, they have Burns' deal with the Reds from which to take inspiration.
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