News from MLB Network reported that the Reds and Burns agreed to a seven-year contract extension worth $105 million, equating to an average annual value of $15 million. This extension creates a new benchmark for potential long-term deals, which could influence negotiations for Misiorowski.
Tale Of Two Aces
Burns is 23, and Misiorowski is a year younger. Beyond age, both pitchers rank highly on several major leaderboards. Misiorowski owns a 13.54 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) rate, while Burns sits at 10.34 K/9. Burns has a 2.54 ERA, with Misiorowski posting a 1.62 ERA—the best in the major leagues. Burns excels at escaping jams, sporting an 87.4% left-on-base percentage, while Misiorowski leaves 81.9% of runners on base. The two have dominated this season, and the Reds’ commitment to Burns could influence how other teams approach extensions for young hurlers.
Misiorowski is expected to command a higher price than Burns, but that premium could still work in his favor for securing a long-term contract that covers a substantial portion of his prime years. More teams are opting to buy out arbitration years and extend into the early free-agent period for their rising stars. An example of this approach is the Brewers’ previous extension with Jackson Chourio before his major league debut.
Milwaukee’s Stingy Tendencies
Milwaukee has not been known for locking in long-term deals with pitchers in recent years, often trading arms before those contracts mature. Misiorowski, however, has a higher ceiling than some of the Brewers’ recent youngsters. If Milwaukee were to adjust its approach, he would be a prime candidate. The right-hander is widely regarded as one of the league’s top strikeout artists and is approaching a point where he could be among the fastest throwers in MLB history.
Milwaukee moved on from Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta before those players reached their late-20s, and Misiorowski is still in his pre-arbitration years at age 24. He is on track to become a free agent after the 2031 season. Both Peralta and Burnes received Cy Young voting consideration the year before Milwaukee chose to maximize the return on their contracts. Misiorowski’s situation is different: he remains a longer-term asset, making a pre-arbitration extension into his arbitration years a plausible path.
If the Brewers were to enter arbitration with Misiorowski, they could face a scenario similar to other clubs that have gone to arbitration with star pitchers. For example, one team faced arbitration with a two-time Cy Young winner and ultimately awarded a substantial raise after arbitration, highlighting how a well-structured extension can be more favorable than a potential arbitration outcome.
In summary, the landscape for Misiorowski’s contract could mirror the evolving trend of securing long-term deals for elite young arms, potentially providing stability for both the player and the team as Misiorowski continues to develop into one of the game’s premier pitchers.
