The Cincinnati Reds just raised the price of doing business in the NL Central, and that matters for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that Cincinnati and right-hander Chase Burns have agreed to a seven-year, $105 million contract extension. For the Brewers, that number now hangs over any future deal for Jacob Misiorowski, especially with no extension talks currently underway between Milwaukee and its young ace.
Milwaukee is sitting atop the NL Central and in position to not only reach the postseason but push for the World Series spot from the NL. Even after adding Lance McCullers Jr. in a deal, the Brewers still need Misiorowski to be elite, and this season has made that even clearer.
Burns, 23, has put together a strong year for the Reds, posting a 2.54 ERA, a 173 ERA+, an 11-1 record, and 4.2 bWAR across 18 starts. He has struck out 118 batters in 102.2 innings.
Misiorowski has been even better. The 24-year-old Brewers right-hander owns a 1.62 ERA, a 260 ERA+, a 10-4 record, and 4.2 bWAR in 18 starts, with 167 strikeouts over 111.0 innings pitched.
That’s the kind of production that pushes the price tag up fast. With Burns now locked in at $105 million over seven years, Milwaukee will likely have to go beyond that to keep Misiorowski in place. The new deal sets a clear benchmark, and the Brewers’ ace may now cost more than $105 million on a seven-year term, with an average annual value that would likely top $15 million per year.
It was always going to be expensive to extend him. Burns’ contract just made the floor a lot higher.
In Other News...
Brewers Just Made The Pitching Move Cubs Fans Were Dreading
The Brewers just added another arm to a division race that already had the Cubs watching every move in Milwaukee. In a deadline-season trade with the Astros, they picked up veteran right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. and left-hander Colton Gordon, a move aimed at bolstering pitching depth as clubs position themselves for the stretch run.
For Cubs fans, the intrigue is less about the names than the possibility that Milwaukee is still shopping for more stability on the mound. McCullers has battled injuries and uneven results in recent years, including a 6.51 ERA in 16 appearances last season and a 6.86 mark in eight starts this year, but the Brewers are clearly betting there is still value in the profile. Whether this is the first step in a bigger push or just a depth play, it is the kind of transaction that can change the feel of a deadline chase in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cubs Pitching Depth Suddenly Finds Himself In Limbo Again
Charlie Barnes is back on the open market after another quick turn through a big-league organization, this time with the Dodgers. The left-hander, who once came through the Cubs system via a waiver claim, was designated for assignment by Los Angeles and cleared waivers before his latest roster move sent him into limbo again.
Barnes had gotten into four games for the Dodgers this season, giving the club some left-handed depth after his arrival from Chicago in May. His path has already included stops in MLB, KBO and multiple minor league systems, a reminder of how quickly a pitchers footing can change when a team needs an arm and the bullpen shuffle starts all over again. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Pitching Depth Just Took Another Hit At The Worst Time
The Cubs pitching depth keeps getting tested at a time when every arm matters, and Hunter Harveys latest setback only adds to the pressure. Chicago brought him in on a one-year deal to help stabilize the staff, but his move to the injured list leaves the club trying to piece together innings while the calendar keeps shrinking.
There is still some hope elsewhere on the mound, with Ben Brown expected back before seasons end even if his role looks different than it did earlier in the year. Edward Cabrera has also restarted his throwing program and is lined up for a bullpen session before the end of July, with August still in play for a possible return, but the Cubs are still waiting on clarity as they try to hold their pitching plan together. [Read more 🡒]