Elly De La Cruz turned down largest contract in Reds history
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The Cincinnati Reds made Elly De La Cruz an offer last spring that would have made him the highest-paid player in franchise history, surpassing Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million contract, but De La Cruz declined the deal.
- De La Cruz, who turned 24 recently, is arbitration-eligible in 2027 and will become a free agent after the 2029 season; his agent Scott Boras has not commented on the contract negotiations.
- The Reds have a history of signing young players to long-term extensions, including Hunter Greene’s six-year, $53 million deal signed in 2023, but have yet to secure similar agreements with De La Cruz or other young impact players.
- Comparatively
