Tigers' Scott Harris just received loud Troy Melton message after Reds-Chase Burns news

2026 has been the year of the extension. Kevin McGonigle, Konnor Griffin, JJ Wetherholt, Colt Emerson, and Cooper Pratt have all signed nine-figure deals this year — and that's not all.

On Thursday, the Reds became the latest to lock up a young talent for the foreseeable future, with a seven-year, $105 million contract for pitcher Chase Burns. It ties Homer Bailey's 2014 pact as the third-largest contract in Cincinnati's history in terms of total value, behind Joey Votto's 10-year, $225 million deal and Ken Griffey Jr.'s nine-year, $116.5 million deal.

It's just good business for everyone involved. Teams want to retain their homegrown talent before they get so good they'll force owners to break the bank, and with CBA/labor talks already looking sour, young players want to make sure their futures are secure under current rules.

It's still a small miracle that the Tigers locked up McGonigle, but they could use Burns' contract as a blueprint and extend their first pitcher in over a decade. Tarik Skubal may be a goner as soon as the season is over, but Troy Melton could be Scott Harris' next extension target.

Tigers could use Reds' Chase Burns extension as a blueprint for Troy Melton

The thing that could give the Tigers pause is Melton's injury history, which is fairly limited but is also recent. He started this season on the 60-day IL with right elbow inflammation. There's always the fear an issue like that will be recurring, and the Tigers' rotation is already plenty injury-prone as it is.

But a $15 million AAV like Burns' is far from out of the question for Melton, who's been nothing but outstanding since he was finally reactivated from the IL. He has a 1.82 ERA in eight starts (49 1/3 innings), already good for 2.2 bWAR. These kinds of deals are never made completely without some risk.

The Tigers are right on the verge of the first luxury tax threshold, which they would absolutely be loathe to go over, but they could get a deal done with Melton before the offseason without having to worry about it if they employ the same strategy they used with McGonigle, whose contract doesn't technically start until 2027.

Even though the Tigers' rotation is going to be in much better shape than some might think after Skubal, Casey Mize, and Jack Flaherty's departures, there's nothing wrong with taking things a step further and securing the future of the rotation right now.

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