The Yankees keep circling the same problem, and the answers coming out of the rumor mill feel pretty small for a franchise that’s supposed to think bigger. New York has been linked to finding a better partner for Austin Wells than Ali Sanchez, and there’s even chatter about moving on from Ryan McMahon. But the club is also reportedly unlikely to chase Japanese star Teruaki Sato, which has done little to inspire confidence.
That’s why Joey Votto’s comments about Elly De La Cruz land so hard.
On the Foul Territory podcast, Votto laid out exactly why he thinks the Reds should consider moving their young star shortstop rather than committing the kind of money that could reshape a payroll for years.
"I would trade Elly [De La Cruz] for as many prospects as possible to start," Votto told AJ Pierzynski on the Foul Territory podcast. "Elly's going to get $650 million.
Even if he doesn't get that number, he's 50 to 60 per year times seven, just to start. You know, let's say the CBA changes things; he's making $350 million over the course of seven years, minimum, six years minimum.
Are you going to give up half or a third of your payroll on one player? It doesn't make sense."
The Reds already made a spring 2025 extension offer to De La Cruz that was said to top the 10-year, $225 million deal they gave Votto in April of 2012. He turned it down quickly, and his ascent since then has only pushed the money higher. The speculation now is that he could end up as baseball’s next $700 million player.
For Cincinnati, the cost is only going up. De La Cruz is entering arbitration for the first time and is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to earn $7.9 million in 2027, a sharp rise from his 2026 salary of $800K. Long before free agency enters the picture, the price tag is moving in the wrong direction for the Reds.
And Votto didn’t stop there. He also said the Reds never should have signed him to that extension years ago and would have been better off trading him.
That’s where the Yankees come in.
De La Cruz is exactly the kind of player New York should be targeting if it wants a true jolt, not just another roster patch. He’s coming off his best season as a pro, and his value is as high as it’s going to get with three years of team control left. The 24-year-old posted his first 30-30 season in 2026 and hit .283/.365/.515, setting career highs across the board in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and walk rate at 11.3%.
The left-handed pitching issue that had followed him around for years disappeared in a big way. De La Cruz had carried a career .607 OPS against southpaws into this season, but in 2026 he put up a .990 OPS against them.
The finish to his year was even louder. In September, he hit .348/.437/.719 with nine home runs in 24 games while playing through a bum quad.
At six-foot-six, De La Cruz is a rare physical force. His 94.7 mile per hour average exit velocity in 2026 puts him in the same neighborhood as Aaron Judge, who posted a 95.4 mile per hour average exit velocity in 2025. He also brings one of the strongest throwing arms in the sport, averaging 92 miles per hour, and he runs like someone much smaller.
That combination makes him the sort of player who could fit alongside Judge for a bit and then eventually inherit the spotlight. In that sense, he isn’t just a fit for the Yankees’ present. He’s the kind of talent who could define their next era.
If Cincinnati really did listen to Votto, New York should treat this like a full-scale mission. George Lombard Jr. could be part of the package.
So could Spencer Jones. If it takes Elmer Rodriguez and Carlos Lagrange, that’s the price.
For a player like this, there shouldn’t be untouchables.
Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler already give the Yankees a better foundation than they’ve had at any point during the Judge era. Add De La Cruz, and the picture changes completely.
The Red Sox were reportedly in the mix at the trade deadline, which only adds another layer to the urgency. If the Yankees want to make the kind of move that changes the conversation, this is it. Go big, beat Boston to the punch, and bring in one of the best players under 25 in baseball.
In Other News...
Bengals Suddenly Linked To A Move That Could Change Their Offense
The Colts 2-4 start and the firing of general manager Chris Ballard have stirred up an already unsettled situation in Indianapolis, and it has quickly spilled into trade chatter around one of the NFLs most recognizable running backs. Jonathan Taylors name is suddenly back in the rumor mill, with Cincinnati among the teams said to have at least checked in as clubs look at whether the Colts might be willing to move him.
For the Bengals, the appeal is obvious enough to make the speculation worth watching, even if nothing has been confirmed by Indianapolis or any of the teams involved. Seattle has also been tied to the same broader sweepstakes, and the fact that several clubs are believed to have called the Colts suggests this could become a real story if the market keeps building, leaving Cincinnati fans to wonder whether a major offensive addition is even possible. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Face A Trade Deadline Question Their Secondary May Force
With the Bengals navigating a wave of defensive injuries, the trade deadline has started to feel less like a formality and more like a possible fix. Cincinnati has been linked to the idea of adding help to the secondary, and Los Angeles safety Derwin James has emerged as the kind of versatile player who could matter on the back end and in the box if the team decides to make a move.
James brings the sort of name and skill set that would draw attention anywhere, even if the situation in Los Angeles makes a deal more complicated than it looks on paper. The Chargers have their own issues as they try to steady a struggling season, and any discussion around a deadline splash comes with the reality that nothing has been confirmed. For the Bengals, the question is whether the need in the secondary pushes them from monitoring the market to actually acting on it. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Have A Special Teams Problem Beyond Their Star Kicker
Evan McPherson has given the Bengals a stabilizing presence in a season when so much around him has felt uneven. His reliable kicking has helped keep Cincinnati afloat in tight spots, but the bigger special teams picture has been far less tidy, with the punt and kickoff units leaving too many openings for opponents to take advantage of. Costly penalties, coverage breakdowns and mishandled returns have repeatedly turned routine snaps into hidden-yardage losses.
Ryan Rehkows production has also been part of the concern, as his average punt distance has lagged behind the better legs around the league. For a team trying to stay competitive, those issues matter because special teams errors do not just change field position, they can swing momentum and put stress on the rest of the roster. Cincinnati has the kind of kicking game that should be an asset, but the rest of the operation has not always done McPherson or the Bengals many favors. [Read more 🡒]