Elly De La Cruz Rejects Historic Reds Contract Offer

The Cincinnati Reds recently extended a significant contract offer to shortstop Elly De La Cruz. This proposal aimed to surpass Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million contract, established in 2012. However, De La Cruz declined the offer, indicating a desire to manage his career independently.

Details of De La Cruz’s Contract Offer

Reds president of baseball operations, Nick Krall, confirmed the offer would have made De La Cruz the highest-paid player in the team’s history. Despite this, he emphasized the importance of respecting De La Cruz’s decision. At just 24 years old, De La Cruz is first eligible for arbitration in 2027 and can pursue free agency after the 2029 season. He noted, “I let my agent take care of all of that,” referring to the contract negotiations.

Comparative Long-Term Deals in Baseball

In recent seasons, several young stars across Major League Baseball have committed to long-term contracts. Notable extensions include:

• Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals signed an 11-year, $288.8 million deal in February 2024.
• Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks received an eight-year, $111 million extension in March 2023.
• Tyler Soderstrom of the Oakland Athletics signed a seven-year, $86 million deal with a potential value of up to $131 million.
• Ronald Acuña Jr. secured an eight-year, $100 million extension with the Atlanta Braves in 2019.

Despite the trend toward long-term agreements, some players have rejected substantial offers. Juan Soto turned down multiple extensions, including a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Washington Nationals in 2022. Soto is now with the New York Mets after being traded from the San Diego Padres.

The Reds’ Approach to Extensions

The Cincinnati Reds have a history of pursuing early contract extensions. Previous players who accepted extensions include Votto, Jay Bruce, Johnny Cueto, and Devin Mesoraco. Most recently, the Reds signed Hunter Greene to a six-year, $53 million deal, with escalators that could raise the value significantly. Greene’s deal could potentially allow him to enter free agency by age 29.

Future Conversations on Contracts

Krall mentioned that discussions about extensions have been held with other impactful players on the team. Despite interest, no contracts have been finalized. He expressed optimism about the team’s future, stating, “We’ve got a lot of guys on this club that are impact players.”

In the competitive landscape of baseball, the decisions made by young stars like De La Cruz will shape their careers and the future of their teams.