The Cincinnati Reds may not have the payroll flexibility to offer Elly De La Cruz the extension he desires.
The Cincinnati Reds enter the 2026 season with one of the most electrifying young players in baseball, yet also one of the most complicated contract situations in the sport.
Shortstop Elly De La Cruz has quickly become the face of the franchise, blending speed, power and charisma into a profile that makes him both indispensable on the field and highly marketable off it.
The 24-year-old has already earned two All-Star selections, led the league in stolen bases and positioned himself as a potential MVP candidate this year. His 2025 season further reinforced that reputation, as he posted a .264 batting average, .336 on-base percentage, .777 OPS, 22 home runs and 37 stolen bases across 162 games.
The Reds attempted to secure his future this winter, reportedly offering a franchise-record extension worth more than $225 million. That deal would have surpassed Joey Votto’s historic contract and signaled a long-term commitment to building around De La Cruz. While the offer was declined, the effort itself drew praise from around the league.
Jim Bowden, former MLB general manager and current analyst, emphasized the importance of the Reds making the attempt.
“Look, I think Nick Krall and the Reds did the right thing by offering him over a quarter of a billion dollars and said, look, we want you here. We want you to spend your career in Cincinnati. I think you have to try to make that effort, whether it works or doesn’t work,” Bowden said.
Still, Bowden acknowledged the harsh reality for a small-market team trying to retain a generational talent.
“It’s pretty painful for a small market team like Cincinnati. I think for them to have a chance to sign him right now, you have to probably start the conversation at $350 million,” he explained during an appearance on the Foul Territory podcast.
That figure underscores the challenge facing the Reds. For a franchise that has long operated with payroll limitations, committing to a deal of that magnitude would reshape the organization’s financial structure.
Cincinnati has traditionally built around young, cost-controlled talent, and while De La Cruz fits that mold, his market trajectory is unlike anything the club has faced before.
The Reds still hold team control through 2029, giving them time to weigh their options. Yet the decision will ultimately define not only the future of their star shortstop but also the trajectory of the franchise itself.
If De La Cruz continues to ascend, the pressure to either extend him or risk losing him in free agency will only intensify. For now, Cincinnati’s front office must balance ambition with financial reality, knowing that the path they choose could shape the club’s identity for the next decade.