A weekend rumor had Reds fans dreaming big, but the number being tossed around for Elly De La Cruz is almost certainly more fantasy than forecast.
The buzz started when a Dominican radio personality shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying highly credible reports pointed to the Cincinnati Reds preparing a 13-year, $700 million extension for De La Cruz this offseason. That figure drew attention fast, especially because Joey Votto recently floated a similar idea, predicting De La Cruz could land a 12-year, $700 million deal once he reaches free agency after the 2029 season.
It is easy to see why the idea caught fire. De La Cruz just ripped through a 15-game stretch in which he hit .452/.507/.742 with six doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI, and a 241 wRC+. That kind of run puts his ceiling back in the spotlight, and it serves as a reminder that he has the talent to one day command a record-setting contract.
Still, the math on the rumor tells its own story. A 13-year, $700 million deal works out to roughly $54 million per year, and there are only about four or five organizations that could even consider a price tag like that. The Reds are not one of them.
That reality makes the whole conversation less about a massive extension and more about how little time Cincinnati may have left with its star shortstop. De La Cruz is about to enter Year 1 of his arbitration window in the upcoming offseason, which means he is under team control for only three more seasons.
There is also the uncomfortable possibility that the Reds could be looking ahead rather than all-in on the present. If the club is not in position to contend for the playoffs over the next few seasons, the front office could decide to move De La Cruz a year or two before free agency to bring back a huge return and help kick-start a rebuild. That would mean he could be wearing another uniform before he ever reaches the open market.
So while the contract chatter made for a fun holiday weekend, it also sharpened the bigger question hanging over Cincinnati: whether De La Cruz is headed toward a long-term future with the Reds, or whether his stay is already ticking toward the end.
For the Reds, that leaves two choices. They can go all-in, spend aggressively, and trade prospects to build a stronger team around De La Cruz for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Or they can keep things as they are. The latter, as things stand, looks far more likely.
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