Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz reportedly turned down an offer last year that would have made him the highest-paid player in franchise history.According to new comment by Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall, De La Cruz, 24, was presented an offer by the team that surpassed Joey Votto’s record 10-year $225 million contract in 2012.“We engaged in Spring Training of 2025 and presented an offer,” Krall told MLB.com on Friday. “The offer would have been the largest contract in Reds history. We didn’t have any further conversations regarding the offer.”Krall did not say why De La Cruz turned down the offer. De La Cruz, who was present at Redsfest on Friday, also declined to talk about the contract offer when asked, saying that he lets his agent handle contract matters.However, despite turning down the extension, De La Cruz is not expected to go anywhere anytime soon: De La Cruz remains signed with the team through the 2029 season, and he is eligible for arbitration for the first time in 2027, which could present an opportunity for the Reds star to boost his salary with the team.Krall did not specifically say how much De La Cruz was offered, or for what period of time the Reds sought to extend his time with the team.De La Cruz, a two-time All-Star, is known for his batting prowess on the field, which has twice earned him the honor of being the Reds’ home run leader in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He also was the league-wide leader in the 2024 season for most bases stolen.He most recently hit 22 home runs and recorded 86 RBIs throughout 162 appearances on the field during the 2025 season, making him the only player to appear in all of the team’s games throughout the year. He also recorded a batting average of .264, with an OPS of .776. However, outside of the batter’s box, some of De La Cruz’s weaknesses on defense have also become visible during that time, finishing as the league leader in fielding errors for two seasons in a row.The shortstop, who is one of the tallest to ever play at the position at 6’5″, got his start with the franchise by being signed to the Dominican Summer League Reds in De La Cruz’s native country of the Dominican Republic in 2018. He then worked his way up through the Reds’ minor league affiliate teams in the United States, before making his professional debut in Cincinnati during the 2023 season. Last year, the Reds also made a similarly generous five-year, $125 million contract offer to Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber. The offer also would have surpassed Votto’s annual salary record with the team if signed, and sought to bolster Cincinnati’s lineup with a league-leading batter.However, Schwarber, a native of Middletown, Ohio, ultimately declined, instead opting to re-sign with the Phillies through the 2030 season.
CINCINNATI —
Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz reportedly turned down an offer last year that would have made him the highest-paid player in franchise history.
According to new comment by Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall, De La Cruz, 24, was presented an offer by the team that surpassed Joey Votto’s record 10-year $225 million contract in 2012.
“We engaged in Spring Training of 2025 and presented an offer,” Krall told MLB.com on Friday. “The offer would have been the largest contract in Reds history. We didn’t have any further conversations regarding the offer.”
Krall did not say why De La Cruz turned down the offer. De La Cruz, who was present at Redsfest on Friday, also declined to talk about the contract offer when asked, saying that he lets his agent handle contract matters.
However, despite turning down the extension, De La Cruz is not expected to go anywhere anytime soon: De La Cruz remains signed with the team through the 2029 season, and he is eligible for arbitration for the first time in 2027, which could present an opportunity for the Reds star to boost his salary with the team.
Krall did not specifically say how much De La Cruz was offered, or for what period of time the Reds sought to extend his time with the team.
De La Cruz, a two-time All-Star, is known for his batting prowess on the field, which has twice earned him the honor of being the Reds’ home run leader in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He also was the league-wide leader in the 2024 season for most bases stolen.
He most recently hit 22 home runs and recorded 86 RBIs throughout 162 appearances on the field during the 2025 season, making him the only player to appear in all of the team’s games throughout the year. He also recorded a batting average of .264, with an OPS of .776.
However, outside of the batter’s box, some of De La Cruz’s weaknesses on defense have also become visible during that time, finishing as the league leader in fielding errors for two seasons in a row.
The shortstop, who is one of the tallest to ever play at the position at 6’5″, got his start with the franchise by being signed to the Dominican Summer League Reds in De La Cruz’s native country of the Dominican Republic in 2018. He then worked his way up through the Reds’ minor league affiliate teams in the United States, before making his professional debut in Cincinnati during the 2023 season.
Last year, the Reds also made a similarly generous five-year, $125 million contract offer to Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber. The offer also would have surpassed Votto’s annual salary record with the team if signed, and sought to bolster Cincinnati’s lineup with a league-leading batter.
However, Schwarber, a native of Middletown, Ohio, ultimately declined, instead opting to re-sign with the Phillies through the 2030 season.