Reds’ Chase Burns extension could help Guardians do the same with Travis Bazzana

On Tuesday, Travis Bazzana added to his budding MLB legacy with an appearance in the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. 

Although he technically became the first member of the 2024 Draft class to appear in an All-Star Game, he was one of three members of the class to earn a nod, as draft compatriots Nick Kurtz and Chase Burns were also named All-Stars but didn’t appear in the game. 

On Thursday, Burns gained another accolade by securing his MLB future with a seven-year, $105 million extension with the Reds that includes no deferrals or option years.  

Burn’s deal makes him the third member of the draft class to sign a long-term extension, joining Pirates infielder Konnor Griffin (nine-year, $140 million extension) and Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt (eight-year, $112.5 million extension)

While Griffin and Wetherholt’s extension added some extra pressure on the Guardians to ink Bazzana to an extension, Burns’ extension sets a (more affordable) precedent that could help the Guardians sign Bazzana to a long-term extension. 

Chase Burns’ extension could help the Guardians in their quest to do the same with Travis Bazzana

Now, part of the reason why the Reds were able to sign Burns for a more affordable price than Griffin or Wetherholt is because he’s a pitcher, which comes with some added risk. 

Although Bazzana’s obviously not a pitcher, Bazzana signing an extension that’s a low nine-figure number like Burns’ would be a huge win for the Guardians. 

It may be less than what Whetherholt and Griffin signed for, but they’re also further ahead of where Bazzana is right now.

Griffin had posted 1.6 bWAR at shortstop prior to tearing his finger tendon, whereas Whetherholt’s been one of the best defenders in baseball while posting a .755 OPS in 90 games. 

While Bazzana was an All-Star, he’s in the midst of a 26-for-135 slump over his last 35 games, and has produced such subpar defense at second base that there’s been a steady drumbeat amongst the fan base about moving him to the outfield. 

Those struggles won’t define Bazzana’s career, but the Guardians could use those struggles to his advantage by signing him to a contract now when he hasn’t the same kind of incredible start to his career as Whetherholt and Griffin. 

All of these extensions come at an interesting crossroad in the MLB calendar considering everyone’s staring down the barrel of a potential lockout that could change the way teams control players via arbitration. 

Signing Bazzana to a long-term contract now would prevent the Guardians from having to worry about that with him. 

Admitting Bazzana’s a bit behind the eight-ball compared to his peers isn’t an admittance of defeat. In fact, it’s far from it.

If anything, it could provide the Guardians with an avenue to sign Bazzana to a long-term extension at a discount. Burns’ extension is another example of that.

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