Yankees just got perfect Cam Schlittler contract extension blueprint (but won't do it)

Cam Schlittler was named a 2026 All-Star but didn't pitch in the game due to his throwing schedule. It was a bummer, sure, but the New York Yankees have a young ace who will lead the organization into its next era of baseball.

Schlittler is under team control through 2031, which takes him through his age-30 season. That would have him hitting free agency right around when other top pitchers get big paydays, like Tarik Skubal this coming offseason.

In related news, the Cincinnati Reds just extended their young, homegrown ace Chase Burns on Thursday, inking the right-hander to a seven-year, $105 million contract. Burns has had almost the exact same trajectory as Schlittler. Both debuted last year. Both are pitching like aces and received their first All-Star nod in 2026.

The only difference is that Burns is younger (23) and resides in a small market, where extensions like these are far more common. Though Schlittler has had the better career to date, there's no arguing against the reality that a $100 million extension of sorts is right on the money for what we're talking about.

The problem is that the Yankees would never do it. They've given out two pre-arbitration contract extensions under Brian Cashman (the four-year deal to Luis Severino and the seven-year deal to Aaron Hicks). Both have blown up in their faces. Why? Well, they were extremely shortsighted, and they also went against "Yankees policy" which is to let players go through arbitration and hit free agency naturally.

Here's why the Yankees will not offer Cam Schlittler a contract extension

That reason likely stems from the fact the Yankees constantly have big contracts on the books, so it's harder for them to reward/overpay younger players and entice them to stay when five or more players are making at least $20 million per year.

If Schlittler were to get extended right now, his salary would jump up significantly starting next year. He's making $800K in 2026, which will still rise significantly in arbitration, but it will not jump anywhere near to Burns' $15 million AAV. The fact of the matter is that the Yankees don't need to jump the gun when they are stuck with the following:

• Giancarlo Stanton - $25 million AAV through 2027
• Carlos Rodón - $27.83 million AAV through 2028
• Ryan McMahon - $16 million through 2027

And then there are their respectable, core contracts of:

• Aaron Judge - $40 million AAV through 2031
• Max Fried - $27.5 million AAV through 2032
• Cody Bellinger - $32.5 million AAV through 2030
• Gerrit Cole - $36 million AAV through 2028

There's no doubt Schlittler is worth $15 million AAV. But this is how the Yankees used the arbitration system to their advantage. It's smart business, but it's just sometimes not the best business when you have somebody overperforming to this degree.

Perhaps the Yankees prove us wrong. Maybe it's next year when they can prepare for Stanton coming off the books and find a way to get out of the final year of Rodón. But for right now, expect the Yankees to ride out Schlittler's team control and use the financial flexibility in free agency.

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