The Cincinnati Reds made an ambitious attempt to secure a long-term contract with their star shortstop, Elly De La Cruz, but the offer was ultimately declined. According to reports from C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, the Reds proposed a deal that would have exceeded Joey Votto’s long-standing club-record of 10 years and $225 million, a contract that Votto signed back in 2012.
Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall confirmed the offer, stating, “We made Elly an offer that would’ve made him the highest-paid Red ever. 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, who just celebrated his 24th birthday, has had a stellar start to his career, boasting impressive statistics that include 60 home runs and 139 stolen bases over 420 MLB games, along with a .773 OPS. As for contract negotiations, De La Cruz remarked, “I let my agent take care of all of that,” referring to Scott Boras, whose reputation for guiding clients to free agency for the most lucrative deals is well-known.
The young infielder is not set to enter free agency until after the 2029 season, and the Reds have previously found success with early contract extensions—like the one given to ace pitcher Hunter Greene. Nonetheless, it appears that De La Cruz currently favors holding out for an opportunity that aligns more closely with his aspirations.
De La Cruz’s decision reflects confidence in his abilities and the potential for greater earnings in the future, a strategy that could yield positive results as he continues to develop into a major star in the league. His impressive track record suggests that Reds fans can anticipate a bright future ahead for the agile shortstop as he navigates his path in professional baseball.