The Reds haven’t slammed the door on Elly De La Cruz, and that alone is enough to get the trade market buzzing.
On Tuesday, Cincinnati president of baseball operations Nick Krall was asked about the superstar shortstop and kept things deliberately vague. He didn’t come out and say De La Cruz was on the block, but he also refused to rule anything out: “We haven’t had any conversations about him this offseason. I’m never going to say never, but we haven’t had any conversations.”
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 off season. ... I'm never going to say never, but we haven't had any conversations."
- C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) November 10, 2026
That’s not exactly a trade request, but it’s enough to keep rival front offices interested. Krall has hinted before that Cincinnati would at least listen if someone came with a massive enough offer.
The Red Sox reportedly made a strong push for De La Cruz at this year’s deadline, though the Reds passed. Boston would now need to include top prospect Franklin Arias, and FanSided’s own Pat Ragazzo reported that the Red Sox may not have the kind of farm depth needed after dealing four of their top prospects for Adley Rutschman.
If any club fits the profile of a team that could swing big, Seattle jumps right off the page. The Mariners have a deep system, strong pitching, and a front office led by Jerry Dipoto that has never been shy about making trades.
They also just shut the door on a J.P. Crawford return and are moving on from Randy Arozarena, one of their better bats.
The timing matters, too. The Mariners need a jolt this offseason, with a thin free-agent class and a looming lockdown to begin next season. With Dan Wilson replaced by new manager Jason Kanzler this offseason, Dipoto’s pressure only grows heading into 2027.
Back in September, SoDo Mojo laid out a possible Seattle package built around Ryan Sloan, Michael Arroyo, Jonny Farmelo, and Nick Becker. That’s a hefty price, but the Reds have made it clear they’d need to be blown away to even consider moving their franchise player.
It also wouldn’t be a shock if Cincinnati wanted big-league help, not just prospects. The Reds finished 2026 at 75-87, and dealing De La Cruz would make them look even thinner in 2027 unless they got proven talent back.
A name like Kade Anderson or George Kirby could make the conversation more interesting for Cincinnati. And Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reported that Sloan is considered “untouchable” by the Mariners.
The bigger picture is simple: the Reds have no real reason to move De La Cruz unless the return is extraordinary. He’s under team control for three more years before free agency in 2029, and his agent is Scott Boras, who is known for avoiding extensions and pushing players toward the open market. That gives Cincinnati a reason to at least think about getting ahead of the clock.
And if there’s one thing that makes this worth monitoring, it’s the player himself. De La Cruz is coming off his third straight season with at least 22 home runs and 30 stolen bases, while his defense keeps trending up. Put him next to Julio Rodríguez at the top of Seattle’s lineup, and the Mariners would suddenly have one of the most dangerous power-speed combinations in baseball.
For Seattle, the opportunity is obvious. The AL West looks there for the taking, especially with the Rangers trying to shed salary this offseason and the Astros listening to trade offers for Jeremy Peña.
The Reds have left the opening. Now it’s on Dipoto to see whether he can force his way through it.
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