CINCINNATI — At just 24 years old, Elly De La Cruz has already made a name for himself in the MLB and continues to make waves season after season — but will he continue to do so for the foreseeable future as a Cincinnati Red?
The shortstop rejected an extension offer from the Reds that would have been the largest payday in the history of the franchise, according to a report from MLB.com's Manny Randhawa.
According to Randhawa, De La Cruz was offered a long-term extension last spring, but he said no. De La Cruz opted to decline the offer as he stays with the Reds until he reaches arbitration eligibility in 2027.
“We engaged in Spring Training of 2025 and presented an offer,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick 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.”
Currently, the largest contract in Reds history is former first baseman Joey Votto's 10-year, $225 million deal back in 2012.
Juan Soto currently holds the MLB's contract record when he signed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets in 2024. Soto's deal broke the previous record set in 2023 when Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The two-time All-Star hasn't always had glowing stats with the Reds, but he continues to break records and has quickly become a fan favorite, even starring on the cover of "MLB The Show 25."
In 2023, just weeks after his major league debut, De La Cruz became the first Reds player to hit for the cycle since 1989. In 2024, he became the fifth player in MLB history to hit at least 20 home runs (25) and steal at least 60 bases (67) in a single season — he was also the youngest to do so.
