The Red Sox have been linked to Elly De La Cruz for more than a year, and the fit is easy to see from a pure talent standpoint. The Cincinnati Reds shortstop has already put together a season that screams superstar, and the numbers from last year make the case loud and clear: 30 home runs, 30 stolen bases, a .283 average, and an .880 OPS.
That’s not a one-year flash either. De La Cruz has been showing for some time that he can impact a contending club and do it at the highest level. In 2024, his first full season in Major League Baseball, he posted 25 home runs and 67 stolen bases, a reminder of how much damage he can do with both power and speed.
Even with that production, reports say the Reds have at least thought about moving him. One writer argued Cincinnati should seriously consider it, especially with De La Cruz headed toward arbitration for the first time this winter and under team control for just three more seasons.
“Should the Reds even consider trading De La Cruz? The short answer is, yes. He'll enter arbitration for the first time this winter, and is under team control for just three more seasons.
"There's little reason to believe the Reds and De La Cruz will come to terms on a contract extension, so in order to maximize his value, Cincinnati should look to trade him before the start of the 2028 season,” Drew Koch wrote.
If the Reds did make that move, Boston would be an obvious destination. The Red Sox have been interested in him, and adding a bat like De La Cruz would give them another major offensive weapon.
There are lineup complications to sort through if the Red Sox bring in another infielder, but the roster picture does not need to be blown up. Even if Franklin Arias gets called up, Boston could still roll with an infield group that includes Arias, De La Cruz, Trevor Story, and Curtis Mead.
That would likely leave one of them as the designated hitter on any given night, and the defensive alignment would need some work. But from an offensive standpoint, De La Cruz is exactly the kind of player who would make the gamble worthwhile.
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Red Sox Power Answer May Come Down To One Risky Bet
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The problem, as always, is whether the body cooperates long enough for that plan to matter. Boston may be willing to explore a designated hitter role for Casas if he gets all the way back, but the uncertainty around his recovery keeps that idea in the realm of possibility rather than certainty for now. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Have A Real Franklin Arias Dilemma This Offseason
Boston is trying to sort through an infield puzzle that could shape the way it handles Franklin Arias this offseason, and the fit is not a simple one. Trevor Story is still part of the conversation in the middle infield, while Curtis Meads role may also need to be defined before the roster settles into place for next season.
Arias is the name that makes the decision more interesting because his development matters as much as the major league alignment. He is turning 21 soon, and the Red Sox have reason to be careful with how they introduce him, since the best path for his growth appears to be one that lets him play every day in the field rather than bouncing around in a limited role. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Linked To A Big Infield Upgrade With One Clear Problem
The Red Sox are weighing infield upgrades this offseason, and the discussion is already circling around ways to add more offense on the dirt. Boston has not made any decisions yet, but the front office is clearly open to reshaping that group if a move can help the lineup produce more consistently.
One name that has come up as a possible trade fit is an Astros infielder, a sign that Boston is at least exploring bigger swings rather than just minor tweaks. The complication is the roster crowding already on hand, with Franklin Arias, Curtis Mead and Trevor Story all part of the calculus, so any addition would have to make sense not just talent-wise but structurally, too. [Read more 🡒]