If the Reds are leaving even a sliver of daylight open on Elly De La Cruz, the Red Sox have every reason to keep pushing.
That’s the real takeaway from Tuesday, when Cincinnati president of baseball operations Nick Krall was asked about the shortstop and didn’t completely close the door. He also made it clear there haven’t been any talks yet this offseason, but the wording was enough to get attention.
“At the GM Meetings, Reds Nick Krall said he has not had any trade talks involving Elly De La Cruz. ‘We haven’t had any conversations about him this offseason. ... I’m never going to say never, but we haven’t had any conversations,’” Rosecrans wrote on X.
That’s not a trade request, and it’s not a signal that De La Cruz is available. But it also isn’t the flat-out denial Cincinnati could have offered if it wanted to end the chatter immediately.
De La Cruz is 24, under team control for three more seasons, and the Reds have no real need to move him. The source material makes that part plain: they shouldn’t trade him.
Still, the noise around Boston’s interest hasn’t gone away. The Red Sox were in on De La Cruz before the trade deadline and, according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, made a “very strong offer” for him.
Cincinnati held on to its franchise star, but the pursuit didn’t disappear. It has resurfaced this offseason, helped along by a cryptic post from WEEI’s Rob Bradford and Bowden’s reporting that Boston is expected to keep looking for shortstop help and will continue to call about De La Cruz if the Reds are willing to listen.
If that door stays even slightly open, Boston has to be ready to walk through it.
The price would be steep. Franklin Arias, the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball, would be a logical starting point in any package.
From there, the Red Sox would likely need to include major league talent and more premium prospect capital. One possible framework mentioned was Arias, Wilyer Abreu, Juan Valera - Boston’s No. 3 prospect - and Franklin Primera, the club’s No. 4 prospect.
Jake Bennett could also be part of the mix if necessary, or another prospect could be substituted.
What should not be part of the conversation are Roman Anthony or Payton Tolle. Garrett Crochet and Adley Rutschman were also named as players who should not be on the table.
For now, nothing is close. Nothing is likely.
But after Tuesday’s comments, the Red Sox have reason to stay on it, because Cincinnati didn’t shut the whole thing down. And for a player like De La Cruz, that’s enough to keep the phone lines busy.
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