Cincinnati Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz turned down a contract extension last spring that would’ve surpassed Joey Votto’s club-record 10-year, $225-million deal inked in April 2012.
“We made Elly an offer that would’ve made him the highest-paid Red ever,” Krall said Friday, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. “That’s not where he is and you respect that. It’s their career. You keep going and you keep working on what you can do today.”
De La Cruz isn’t arbitration-eligible until 2027 and can potentially test free agency following the 2029 season.