Reds Face Tough Road to Keep De La Cruz Long-Term, Insider Says
The Athletic's C. Trent Rosecrans said on Foul Territory that Elly De La Cruz wants to win and may not stay with Cincinnati for his entire career. The shortstop is entering his first arbitration year, and the Reds have made the postseason only once with him. Rosecrans noted that keeping him long-term is unrealistic given the current state of the game.
De La Cruz enters his first arbitration-eligible season in 2026, with team control extending through 2029. The Reds previously submitted what Rosecrans described as the largest contract offer in franchise history, surpassing the deal Joey Votto signed in 2012, though that benchmark predates the current escalation of player salaries by more than a decade.
Cincinnati has reached the postseason only once during De La Cruz's tenure, and the organization's projected core around him includes infielder Sal Stewart and pitcher Chase Burns. Rosecrans framed the situation as a dual challenge: matching the financial scale of an open-market deal while simultaneously constructing a competitive roster that justifies his commitment to the franchise.
This situation could affect Reds fans who may face the prospect of losing a generational talent, while also influencing how small-market franchises approach star player retention league-wide. The outcome may shape front-office strategies regarding when to trade or extend elite players, and could impact competitive balance perceptions in MLB. For Cincinnati, the urgency to build a winner around De La Cruz may determine whether the team's window of contention closes prematurely or becomes a model for other mid-market clubs.