Key Highlights
- The Cincinnati Reds offered shortstop Elly De La Cruz a contract surpassing Joey Votto’s record-breaking deal.
- De La Cruz declined the offer, stating he let his agent handle negotiations.
- This decision aligns with other young stars who have turned down long-term contracts in recent years.
- The Reds’ president of baseball operations expressed respect for De La Cruz’s decision and plans to continue conversations with young players about extensions.
Elly De La Cruz’s Decision: A Bold Move by the Cincinnati Reds’ Shortstop
Last spring, the Cincinnati Reds extended a contract offer to their star shortstop Elly De La Cruz that would have surpassed Joey Votto’s historic 10-year, $225 million deal. However, De La Cruz decided not to accept it. The news was announced by Nick Krall, the team’s president of baseball operations, on Friday.
De La Cruz turned 24 earlier this week and is set to become eligible for arbitration in 2027.
He will be a free agent following the 2029 season. When asked about his decision, De La Cruz stated, “I let my agent take care of all that.”
Contextualizing De La Cruz’s Choice
De La Cruz’s decision is part of a broader trend in Major League Baseball where young stars are opting for shorter-term deals or turning down long-term offers. Other notable examples include:
- Bobby Witt Jr., who signed an 11-year, $288.8 million deal with the Kansas City Royals in February 2024.
- Corbin Carroll’s eight-year, $111 million contract extension with the Arizona Diamondbacks in March 2023.
- Tyler Soderstrom’s seven-year, $86 million extension with the Oakland Athletics that includes a club option for an eighth year and escalators that could increase its value to over $131 million.
Industry Trends and the Reds’ Approach
The Cincinnati Reds have a history of signing young players to long-term deals, including Joey Votto’s own extension. Krall mentioned that the team has approached other young impact players for extensions as well but hasn’t seen any success so far.
“We’ve got a lot of guys on this club that are impact players that have a chance to be impact players,” Krall said. “Hunter took a deal and that was great. We love having him and he’s an anchor starter for us.
We’ve had a lot of conversations over the years, it’s got to work out on both parties.”
Despite the lack of immediate results, the Reds remain committed to long-term deals with their young talent. The team has shown interest in signing Hunter Greene and other players to multi-year contracts, but these discussions are ongoing.
The Future Outlook
De La Cruz’s decision is a significant development for both his career and the Cincinnati Reds organization. As he nears free agency, his value on the open market could be influenced by this choice. For now, the team remains optimistic about continuing to work with their young stars.
The Cincinnati Reds will keep pushing forward, hoping that other key players like De La Cruz will see the benefits of long-term security. Meanwhile, fans and analysts will watch closely as these negotiations unfold in the coming years.
