The Yankees have spent the offseason staring at an infield that still doesn’t have all the answers. If Brian Cashman is looking for a way to solve that problem in one swing, the most dramatic path would be a blockbuster pursuit of Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
De La Cruz is not the kind of player who usually gets mentioned as a trade possibility, but the idea picked up steam after former MLB general manager and current analyst Jim Bowden floated the possibility during an Oct. 29 appearance on the D-Mac and Reiter show.
Asked Jim Bowden if the Reds would seriously consider trading Elly De La Cruz this offseason. "Absolutely I do.
This kind of trade makes sense for the Reds and the Dodgers. The Dodgers need to be thinking about their next superstar player." pic.twitter.com/03iNx2lHpk
Bowden pointed to Cincinnati’s failure to lock De La Cruz into a long-term extension, noting that the shortstop had already turned down a deal that would have been the richest in franchise history. His argument was simple: if the Reds can’t secure him now, they may eventually have to move him before losing him for less than he’s worth.
That doesn’t mean Cincinnati is shopping him. It does mean the door is at least cracked open, and with three seasons of team control left, the Reds have no real pressure to rush into anything.
Still, if the Reds’ thinking has shifted, the Yankees should be paying attention.
De La Cruz is one of the few players who can change the feel of an offense almost by himself. At 24, the switch-hitter just posted the best season of his career, hitting .283/.365/.515 with 30 home runs, 79 RBIs, 30 stolen bases and an .880 OPS in 143 games. His 5.6 bWAR only reinforces how much he brings beyond the bat.
For New York, that kind of profile would fit in almost anywhere. The Yankees have leaned hard on Aaron Judge to drive the lineup in recent years, and his injury-plagued 2026 season showed how fragile the offense can look without him. De La Cruz would give them another middle-of-the-order force, but he’d also bring speed and athleticism that can manufacture runs when the long ball isn’t there.
Picture Judge and De La Cruz in the same lineup, with Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice and the rising Spencer Jones behind them. That’s a different kind of attack.
De La Cruz could also work near the top of the order, where his on-base skills and speed would immediately put pressure on pitchers. Being a switch-hitter only adds to the appeal, giving the Yankees more flexibility instead of another bat that tilts one way.
He’d also answer the biggest question at shortstop, removing the need to lean entirely on George Lombard Jr. or another internal option.
That’s where the fantasy starts to get expensive.
Cincinnati finished 75-87 in 2026 and has plenty of holes beyond shortstop. The Reds need starting pitching, bullpen help, outfield production and catching.
Their offense also struggled outside of De La Cruz and Sal Stewart. If they were ever to move their best all-around player, the return would have to check multiple boxes and bring real long-term value.
One possible framework for New York would send Will Warren, Luis Gil, Jasson Dominguez and infield prospect Dax Kilby to Cincinnati.
Warren would give the Reds a controllable starter. Gil could deepen the rotation or even shift into a bullpen role.
Dominguez would add a young switch-hitting outfielder with upside. Kilby might be the most valuable piece of the group, thanks to his contact ability, athleticism and offensive potential.
Even so, that might not be enough.
Cincinnati could ask for a more established young star or one of the Yankees’ other premium prospects, including Lombard, Jones or Carlos Lagrange. With De La Cruz under club control through 2029, the Reds would have every reason to hold out for a massive return.
That’s the tension for the Yankees. They have enough young talent to build a serious offer, but the cost would be steep.
Warren and Gil would help a pitching staff that has been hit hard by injuries in recent seasons. Dominguez and Kilby could become long-term bats.
But De La Cruz is already performing like a star, and his age plus team control make him much more than a short-term fix.
He’d be the kind of acquisition that changes the shape of the lineup for years, not just another veteran brought in to patch a hole.
There’s also the ripple effect in the infield. If De La Cruz lands at shortstop, Lombard would need a new path, and the Yankees could explore shifting him to another spot, potentially opening up more flexibility at second or third base.
Even then, a deal like this wouldn’t solve everything. New York would still need bullpen help, a decision on David Bednar and more consistency behind the plate. Trading multiple controllable pitchers could also create fresh problems if injuries hit again.
But opportunities to add a 24-year-old switch-hitting star with 30-homer power, elite speed and three years of control don’t come around often.
The Reds may decide De La Cruz is simply too important to move. If they’re willing to listen, though, Cashman would be wise to make the call.
Because adding Elly De La Cruz wouldn’t just upgrade the Yankees’ lineup. It could change the way their offense looks for years.
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