Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall just tossed a grenade into the offseason, telling reporters on Tuesday that while the team “haven’t had any conversations” about trading superstar Elly De La Cruz this offseason, he’s “never going to say never.” That’s right, even after a monstrous 2026 season where De La Cruz put up a .283 average, 30 homers, 79 RBI, 99 runs, and a mind-blowing 30 stolen bases with a .880 OPS, the Reds aren’t completely slamming the door on moving him.
The Dangerous Dance Around Their Franchise Star
You’d think a player like Elly De La Cruz, who is the absolute face of the Reds, would be untouchable. This dude is only 24 years old, already a two-time All-Star, and one of the most exciting young players in the entire sport. Krall himself admits, “He’s a really good player on our club,” adding, “He’s a great player and I love having him on our team.” But then comes the kicker: “If there’s something out there and someone wants to come to us and talk about it.” You know just about every contender in the sport would be flooding Krall’s phone if there was any real shot at landing a talent like De La Cruz. The Reds have three years of control over him, which usually means they hold all the cards, but Krall’s open-door policy has to make you wonder what they’re really thinking.
Is Cincinnati Testing De La Cruz’s Patience?
For now, it seems “incredibly unlikely” that De La Cruz gets moved this offseason, and honestly, the Reds have “little incentive to trade the most exciting player they’ve had in years.” But that doesn’t mean the buzz is going to die down. The biggest elephant in the room has to be Cincinnati’s track record: the team has only notched one playoff berth in De La Cruz’s four seasons and their overall record in that time is a disappointing 317-331. It’s not a stretch to imagine that even a talent like Elly De La Cruz “may eventually grow weary of Cincinnati’s mediocrity.” The clock is always ticking for a generational talent on a struggling team.
For now, Elly De La Cruz remains a Red, still under control for three more years. But with the front office openly admitting they’ll listen to offers, and the team’s ongoing struggle with mediocrity, every fan has to be watching this situation like a hawk. The Reds have a choice to make: are they truly building around their electrifying star, or are they just waiting for the right offer to walk away?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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