2026 has turned into the year of the extension, and the latest splash came Thursday when the Reds handed Chase Burns a seven-year, $105 million deal. That contract ties Homer Bailey’s 2014 agreement for the third-largest in Reds history by total value, trailing only Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million pact and Ken Griffey Jr.’s nine-year, $116.5 million deal.
For clubs, this is the kind of move that makes sense before a young player gets so good the price tag explodes. For players, it’s a way to lock in security while the current rules are still in place, especially with CBA and labor talks already sounding shaky.
That’s why Burns’ deal should have the Tigers paying attention. Scott Harris has already pulled off the kind of extension that qualifies as a small miracle with Kevin McGonigle, and Detroit could use the Reds’ approach as a model for its next big move: Troy Melton.
There is, of course, a reason for caution. Melton’s injury history is limited, but it is recent.
He opened this season on the 60-day IL because of right elbow inflammation, and that kind of issue always raises the possibility of something lingering. The Tigers’ rotation already carries plenty of injury risk, so that part of the equation matters.
Still, the price point is not out of reach. A $15 million AAV, the kind Burns could point to, would not be a wild number for Melton given what he has done since returning.
In eight starts, covering 49 1/3 innings, he has posted a 1.82 ERA and produced 2.2 bWAR. Deals like this always come with some level of risk, but that’s the tradeoff teams make when they want to buy in early.
Detroit is also operating near the first luxury tax threshold, a line it would clearly prefer not to cross. Even so, there’s a path to getting something done before the offseason without creating that problem, especially if the Tigers follow the same structure they used with McGonigle, whose contract does not technically begin until 2027.
And even with Tarik Skubal potentially gone after the season and Casey Mize and Jack Flaherty also departing, the Tigers’ rotation could still look better than some expect. That doesn’t make the case for Melton any weaker. If anything, it makes the idea of securing another starter now feel even more sensible.
In Other News...
Tigers Fans Just Got The Trade Rumor They Were Dreading
With the trade deadline approaching, the Braves are already signaling they plan to be busy, and general manager Alex Anthopoulos has made it clear Atlanta expects to be in the market. For Tigers fans, that matters because Detroit ace Tarik Skubal has started to surface in the rumor mill as a possible fit for a contender looking to upgrade its rotation for the stretch run.
CBS Sports and USA Today have both linked Skubal to the conversation, with USA Today pointing to the Dodgers, Yankees, Blue Jays and Padres among the other clubs in the mix. Nothing has been confirmed, but any real push for Skubal would be the kind of move that changes the entire tenor of Detroits deadline, both in terms of what the Tigers might be asked to give up and what kind of return they could demand. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Just Sent A Stunning Message On Tarik Skubal's Price
The Tigers are already being viewed as a team to watch at the 2026 trade deadline, and Tarik Skubal sits at the center of that conversation. With the left-hander potentially moving before he reaches free agency, Detroit is in position to ask for a return that matches the value of one of the sports premier arms, which is exactly why rival clubs are paying close attention to how the front office handles the situation.
Scott Harris has made it clear the bar is extremely high, and that alone tells you where this is headed. Even with the deadline still in the distance, the Tigers are signaling they will not move Skubal unless the package is substantial enough to reshape the organization, which leaves the rest of the league wondering whether anyone will actually be willing to meet that price. [Read more 🡒]