The Cincinnati Reds are facing a pivotal moment, and all eyes are on their dynamic young shortstop, Elly De La Cruz. Fresh off another All-Star nod, the 24-year-old is delivering the best season of his career, posting a stellar .288 batting average with 10 home runs, 29 RBIs, and nine stolen bases through the first quarter of 2026. That puts him on pace for roughly 40 homers and well over 100 RBIs—a stat line that has him firmly in the conversation as one of the game's most electric players.
De La Cruz has been the heartbeat of a Reds offense that has the team sitting at 22-19, though they remain last in a fiercely competitive NL Central where all five clubs are above .500. Despite his breakout performance and growing superstar status, contract extension talks have hit a standstill.
That silence was broken in dramatic fashion this week. On Monday night, De La Cruz was spotted having dinner with his agent, the legendary Scott Boras, at Jeff Ruby's steakhouse in Cincinnati. A photo posted to De La Cruz's Instagram story—showing a Reds-themed menu item at the table—immediately set the rumor mill ablaze. Fans and analysts alike began speculating about what the meeting could mean for the shortstop's future.
MLB insider Jim Bowden reached out to Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall to ask if the club had re-engaged in extension talks. The answer, it seems, is complicated. Earlier this offseason, Krall revealed that the Reds had offered De La Cruz a deal that would have made him the highest-paid player in franchise history, surpassing the 10-year, $225 million extension Joey Votto signed in 2012. De La Cruz turned it down.
"I let my agent take care of all of that," he said at Redsfest in January, keeping his cards close to the vest.
The presence of Scott Boras in the picture tells most of the story. Known for his aggressive approach, Boras typically steers his top clients toward free agency, where the open market can drive contracts to unprecedented heights. Juan Soto's 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets followed that exact blueprint, and the Reds are now facing a similar challenge: locking down a generational talent before he hits the open market.
For now, De La Cruz is focused on the game. With a 1.8 WAR and an .875 OPS, he's off to a scorching start that only raises his value by the day. The question is whether Cincinnati can find a way to keep their star in red—or if they're watching a future MVP walk out the door.