Reds face Elly De La Cruz extension issue that might have $400M resolution

Reds face Elly De La Cruz extension issue that might have $400M resolution originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Reds are looking like one of the better teams in baseball this season, but they could use some more long-term stability.

One of the ways they could get that is by extending Elly De La Cruz to a long-term deal. It would make a ton of sense financially to do it now, but the Reds tried and failed before with a $225 million offer.

The Athletic's Jim Bowden, amid highlighting this issue and urging the Reds to get something done with the speedy power threat, proposed that the Reds might be able to tempt De La Cruz into signing an extension with a deal in the $400 million range.

Reds might have $400M solution to Elly De La Cruz extension talks

"Even though it was a big offer, it was still a far cry from his agent Scott Boras' view of what De La Cruz is worth, which is going to make it difficult for the Reds to get a long-term deal done," Bowden writes. "However, if the Reds were to make an offer in the $300 million to $400 million range, it could be tempting for him."

Cincinnati working out a long-term extension with De La Cruz would be incredible. He's the exact kind of player worth keeping around long-term.

He has good defense, elite power and speed, and is an everyday player as well. He's only 24 years old and is under club control through the 2029 season.

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