Elly De La Cruz: A Bold Move in the Face of a Record-Breaking Offer
Imagine turning down a deal that would make you the highest-paid player in your team's history. That's precisely what Cincinnati Reds' shortstop Elly De La Cruz did. Last spring, the Reds offered him a contract that would have surpassed Joey Votto's record-breaking 10-year, $225 million extension from 2012. But De La Cruz, a rising star, chose a different path.
"We made Elly an offer that would’ve made him the highest-paid Red ever," said Nick Krall, Reds' president of baseball operations. "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 recently celebrated his 24th birthday, is set to become eligible for arbitration for the first time in 2027. He'll then be eligible for free agency following the 2029 season. "I let my agent take care of all of that," De La Cruz stated at Redsfest.
But here's where it gets controversial... De La Cruz's agent, Scott Boras, has yet to comment on the situation. This decision sparks curiosity, especially when considering the recent trends in Major League Baseball.
Over the past few years, several young stars have secured long-term deals. For example, Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals signed an 11-year, $288.8 million extension in February 2024. Also, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll signed an 8-year, $111 million extension in March 2023. The Athletics signed left fielder Tyler Soderstrom to a 7-year, $86 million contract extension, with an eighth-year club option that could bring the total value to $131 million. Ronald Acuña Jr. signed an 8-year, $100 million extension with the Atlanta Braves in 2019, which runs through 2026, with club options for 2027 and 2028.
And this is the part most people miss... Not every player has been as eager to sign long-term deals. Juan Soto, who was the runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2018, turned down multiple extension offers from the Washington Nationals, including a reported 15-year, $440 million offer in 2022. Soto, also represented by Boras, was later traded to the San Diego Padres and then to the New York Yankees before ultimately signing a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets.
Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs, represented by Creative Artists Agency, also reportedly rejected a long-term extension offer. The two sides are expected to continue negotiations.
The Reds, however, are no strangers to offering early long-term extensions. They have previously signed extensions with players like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Johnny Cueto, and Devin Mesoraco. In April 2023, the Reds signed right-hander Hunter Greene to a 6-year, $53 million deal, with a club option for a seventh year and potential escalators that could push the total value beyond $95 million, buying out two years of free agency.
De La Cruz will be entering his age-28 season when he becomes a free agent after the 2029 season. Krall mentioned that they have approached other young players on the team about extensions, but none have materialized yet. "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."
What are your thoughts? Do you agree with De La Cruz's decision to decline the offer, or do you think he should have taken the deal? Share your opinions in the comments below!
