Reds Star Elly De La Cruz Turned Down A Franchise-defining Contract Proposal

CINCINNATI  – Reds superstar shortstop Elly De La Cruz has turned down a statement hold that would've been nan largest successful franchise history.

The Reds offered nan 24-year-old an hold that exceeds nan Joey Votto statement hold of 10 years, $225 cardinal successful 2012 according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic.

The two-time All-Star will go arbitration-eligible successful 2027 and tin go a free supplier successful 2029. 

“We made Elly an connection that would’ve made him nan highest-paid Red ever,” Nick Krall said Friday. “That’s not wherever he is, and you respect that. It’s his career. You support going and you support moving connected what you tin do today."

De La Cruz is represented by powerfulness supplier Scott Boras.

"I fto my supplier return attraction of each of that,"  De La Cruz said at Redsfest connected Friday. No specifications of a magnitude aliases net person been made public. 

This has been a awesome talking constituent ever since his debut successful 2023, wherever he instantly became a star. He slashed .307/.358/.523 successful his first period pinch nan Reds. He deed 3 location runs, stole 9 bases, and deed for nan cycle. He only deed .191 pinch a .626 OPS aft nan All-Star break. 

He improved successful 2024, hitting 25 location runs pinch an .810 OPS, pinch league-leading 67 stolen bases. He made nan All-Star squad for nan first clip and was looking to return nan adjacent measurement into superstardom for 2025. 

De La Cruz took that measurement to statesman nan 2025 season. He slashed .284/.359/.370 pinch 18 location runs, 25 stolen bases, and was making awesome strides limiting strikeouts and connected defense. Unfortunately, a quad wounded hampered nan 2nd half of nan season. He deed conscionable 19 extra-base hits pinch conscionable 12 stolen bases to decorativeness nan season. 

If nan Reds neglect to widen him, nan mobility has to beryllium asked: How agelong until you person to make nan waste and acquisition and get nan absolute highest worth from him?

One point is certain: The Reds scheme connected having De La Cruz connected nan roster for nan full 2026 season.

Check retired nan full study here.

Make judge you bookmark Cincinnati Reds Talk for nan latest news, exclusive interviews, and regular sum of nan Cincinnati Reds!

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