Reports circulated earlier this month that the Cincinnati Reds had offered franchise cornerstone Elly De La Cruz a 13-year contract extension that would make him baseball’s third-ever $700M player. Since then, he’s played like he deserves to be.
The 24-year-old has reached base safely in 12 of his last 15 games, slashing .370/.460/.852 in that span. He’s also popped seven homers and five doubles across this stretch, good for an extraordinary 1.312 OPS.
This torrid run is just the latest chapter in what has been an incredible year for De La Cruz, who is two homers and two stolen bases away from a 30/30 campaign. He also leads all shortstops in slugging and OPS.
The Dominican native boasts one of baseball’s strongest Baseball Savant profiles, ranking in the top five percent of hitters in several major categories. Those categories include HardHit%, Barrel%, Average Exit Velocity, xSLG, xwOBA, and Batting Run Value.
What’s arguably most impressive about Elly De La Cruz’s season, however, is his drastic defensive improvement. He has posted seven Outs Above Average, a stark contrast to his dismal -3 showing from last season. Combining his vastly improved range with his 80-grade arm, the two-time All-Star has put together one of the better defensive seasons in all of baseball this year.
De La Cruz is in a similar position to where Juan Soto was a few years ago. The switch-hitting shortstop broke into the big leagues when he was 21 years old, giving him the unique privilege of hitting free agency during the early part of his prime years. He will officially become an unrestricted free agent after the 2029 MLB season at the age of 27.
Similarly to when Soto hit the open market at the age of 26, De La Cruz’s value will be at its absolute peak. The chance to sign a superstar player with over a decade of elite production remaining doesn’t come around often.
De La Cruz is one of the most talented players to grace the game of baseball, and continued production at this level lines him up to be one of the most coveted free agents of all time. He could easily command a contract not dissimilar to Juan Soto’s mammoth 15-year, $765M contract with the Mets. One could argue De La Cruz is worth even more than Soto, as he provides much more value in the field and on the base paths.
All this is assuming that the free agency process looks the same in three years as it does now, which is no guarantee. The expiration of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement after the conclusion of this season looms large, threatening to change the game of baseball as we know it.
Naturally, a huge caveat of changes to the free agency process is being speculated, including a limit on contract length as well as deferred money. The latest proposal from the MLB suggests a maximum contract length of five years, with a special sixth year option for a “cornerstone” player.
While this proposal has largely been laughed at by the Players Association, it’s realistic to expect some sort of change to how free agency is handled in the future beyond this winter.
No matter which way one looks at it, it’s clear that Elly De La Cruz is due for a massive payday in a few years. He’s already declined extension approaches from Cincinnati, indicating he is patiently awaiting his impending free agency.
If the free agency process remains the same or similar to what it is now, it’s not out of the question to envision the electric De La Cruz commanding $700M. Some projections even indicate he could become baseball’s first billion-dollar ballplayer. The man is going to get paid.
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