Cincinnati Reds fans, brace yourselves: the team dangled a contract in front of Elly De La Cruz last spring that would have shattered the franchise record, exceeding even Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million deal. That’s the word from Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall, revealed today.
A Record-Breaking Offer, Declined
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The Reds were willing to make De La Cruz the highest-paid player in team history.
“We made Elly an offer that would’ve made him the highest-paid Red ever,” Krall said. “That’s not where he is and you respect that. It’s their career. You keep going and you keep working on what you can do today.”
De La Cruz, represented by Scott Boras, remained tight-lipped about the specifics, deferring to his agent when asked by fans at Redsfest. The offer came after a breakout 2025 season where the 22-year-old sensation hit 25 home runs, swiped a major league-leading 67 bases, and posted a .259/.339/.471 slash line in just under 700 plate appearances. His electrifying blend of power and speed, combined with his switch-hitting ability, quickly established him as a top-10 MVP finisher and arguably the game’s #1 prospect before his call-up.
The Landscape of Long-Term Deals
Any extension exceeding Votto’s contract would have been unprecedented for a player with less than two years of service time, according to MLBTR’s Contract Tracker. Julio RodrĂguez of the Seattle Mariners currently holds that distinction, with a deal technically guaranteeing $210 million, though it includes escalators and options that could potentially reach half a billion dollars. Fernando Tatis Jr. (14 years, $340 million) and Bobby Witt Jr. (11 years, $288.78 million) secured larger guarantees after reaching two years of service.
Krall declined to detail how the Reds’ offer to De La Cruz compared to these precedents. Witt, who signed his extension over the 2023-24 offseason, presented a similar profile to De La Cruz at the time: a former top prospect with the potential to anchor a franchise at shortstop. Witt hit .276/.319/.495 with 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases the season before his extension, already a star but still evolving into the player who would later win a batting title with an OPS nearing 1.000. His deal also included four opt-out clauses, potentially granting him free agency as early as age 31.
Betting on Himself
De La Cruz, for now, has chosen to bet on his continued development—a common strategy for Boras Corporation clients who haven’t yet qualified for arbitration. He played on a pre-arbitration salary in 2025 and will do so again in 2026. He’ll become arbitration-eligible next offseason and remains under team control for four seasons, projected to reach free agency at age 28.
His second full season saw a slight dip in production, with 22 home runs and 37 stolen bases, alongside a .264/.336/.440 slash line. While his average and on-base percentage remained consistent, his power and baserunning numbers experienced a minor decline. Despite this, the Reds remain firmly committed to De La Cruz, who started all but one game as they contended for a National League playoff spot. Krall revealed earlier in the offseason that De La Cruz played through a strained left quad, potentially contributing to his performance dip in the second half, where he hit .236/.303/.363 after a stellar first half (.284/.359/.495 with 25 steals).
What’s Next?
Cincinnati is likely to revisit extension talks this spring, though a successful outcome appears improbable. De La Cruz will remain the team’s cornerstone player regardless. Krall emphasized their commitment to him at shortstop, acknowledging his defensive struggles—he’s led MLB in errors in consecutive seasons—while highlighting his immense offensive potential and high ceiling.
- The Reds offered Elly De La Cruz a contract exceeding Joey Votto’s franchise-record $225 million deal.
- De La Cruz declined the offer, opting to bet on his future performance and potential arbitration gains.
- The Reds remain committed to De La Cruz as their long-term shortstop, despite his defensive inconsistencies.
- His current contract situation keeps him under team control through the 2029 season, with free agency projected for age 28.
What factors will influence De La Cruz’s decision-making process as he approaches free agency? The answer likely hinges on his continued development, both offensively and defensively, and his overall market value.
