The face of the Reds just said no to the biggest offer in club history. At Redsfest on Friday, Cincinnati president of baseball operations Nick Krall revealed the team made Elly De La Cruz a contract extension in spring 2025 that would have set a new franchise record. De La Cruz, 24, declined.

It was not a small number. Krall said the proposal would have topped Joey Votto’s famous 10-year, $225 million deal, the current high-water mark for the Reds. De La Cruz confirmed he has left talks to his agent, Scott Boras, saying simply, “I let my agent take care of all of that.”

The news lands as De La Cruz enters his third full season. He’s set to earn about $820,000 in 2026 before arbitration starts in 2027. The Reds still hold team control through 2029. Free agency arrives in 2030, when he would be 28.

Inside the Reds’ record offer and why it matters

Publicly stating a player turned down your richest deal ever is rare. It signals two things: the Reds were serious about locking in their star, and they want fans to know they tried. Krall was clear and calm about it: “We made Elly an offer that would’ve made him the highest-paid Red ever. That’s not where he is and you respect that.”

For a mid-market club, cost certainty on a franchise player can steady everything. Buying out arbitration years and one or two free-agent years can be a win-win. But that only works if the player believes the security beats the upside of waiting. De La Cruz and Boras chose to wait.

“Pay him now or pay a lot more later.”

The Boras factor: betting on the open market

Scott Boras is known for pushing stars to maximize value. That often means no early hometown discounts, even for beloved players. With De La Cruz under control through 2029, the long game is clear: stack elite seasons, drive up arbitration awards, then hit free agency at 28 in his prime.

This is not anti-Reds; it’s pro-leverage. If De La Cruz keeps climbing, each year makes the final bill bigger. If he stalls, the team gains ground. It’s a classic risk-reward dance both sides know well.

Production that backs the bet

De La Cruz burst onto the scene in 2024 with pure electricity. He led MLB with 67 steals and finished top-10 in NL MVP voting. In 2025, he did a bit of everything again, showing more balance at the plate and all-field value.

• .264 average, 22 homers, 86 RBIs
• 37 steals, 31 doubles, 7 triples
• .777 OPS and 3.6 bWAR
• All-Star in back-to-back seasons

That mix of power, speed, and highlight defense makes him a rare build-around piece. It also makes year-to-year projections tricky. If the power ticks up again and the chase rate drops, you’re looking at a true MVP-level ceiling.

“If Boras is involved, the clock just started ticking.”

What this means for the Reds’ timeline and payroll

Short term, not much changes. De La Cruz is locked in for 2026 at a modest pre-arb number. The real movement starts in 2027 with arbitration, when his platform stats will drive sharp raises.

Medium term, the team has choices. Try again with another extension push after the 2026 season. Or ride out arbitration while building around him with flexible contracts elsewhere. Either path needs discipline. The Votto era showed the pride and the limits of one mega deal on a mid-market roster. This front office will aim for balance.

There is also a message to the clubhouse and the city: the Reds will spend for stars. Even if the deal didn’t get done, making the richest offer in franchise history says the door is open when both sides align.

“Just keep him healthy and let 30/50 talk.”

Health check: No World Baseball Classic as the quad heals

De La Cruz will not play in the upcoming World Baseball Classic as he continues to manage a quad injury from 2025. It’s a smart call. The Reds need him hitting full speed for Opening Day, not chasing March glory. With his game built on burst and speed, lower-body care is non-negotiable.

The bottom line: A calm “no” keeps the future wide open

This decision is not a breakup. It’s a bookmark. The Reds tried to set a new club record to keep their star, and he chose to wait. Both views make sense. The team sought certainty. The player saw upside.

There will be more talks. There will be more numbers. And every stolen base, every laser off his bat, and every All-Star nod will shape the price. For now, the Reds have a 24-year-old star under control through 2029, a fan base that knows the club is willing to spend, and a story that will follow this team for the next four seasons.

That’s not pressure. That’s the spotlight. And Elly De La Cruz seems right at home in it.