The Cincinnati Reds will take into account dealing celebrity shortstop Elly De La Cruz, in response to a outstanding MLB insider.
The 24-year-old De La Cruz is coming off one other phenomenal season for the Reds, one the place he batted .283 with a .880 OPS and a 142 OPS+, indicating his bat was 42% above league common. He additionally hit 30 house runs and had 30 stolen bases with 5.6 bWAR for Cincinnati, which missed the playoffs.
However now that De La Cruz is getting into his arbitration years, and thus is about to get costly for the small-market Reds, the workforce could take into account buying and selling him for prospects as they rebuild their farm system.
Reds Will Contemplate Buying and selling Elly De La Cruz
Talking on the “D-Mac and Reiter” present, Bowden made the argument that the Reds want to contemplate buying and selling their finest participant for a haul.
“Completely, I do (suppose the Reds will take into account buying and selling De La Cruz). Does it make sense? Certain. For the Reds, what is sensible, just like the Nationals with (James) Wooden and (C) Abrams, they need to be making an attempt to signal these guys. However when you can’t, don’t allow them to get to free company or a 12 months from free company. Commerce them now whereas you may get an enormous bundle and may get a aggressive workforce. This type of commerce is sensible for the Reds and the (Los Angeles) Dodgers. The Dodgers must be occupied with their subsequent celebrity participant,” Bowden stated (h/t Reds on SI).
Elly De La Cruz Contract Projection
Per MLB Commerce Rumors, De La Cruz is projected to make $7.9 million in his first 12 months of arbitration for the Reds, who’re one of many lowest-spending groups in baseball.
Whereas that kind of cash is a steal for somebody of De La Cruz’s expertise and degree of manufacturing, the Reds could want to commerce him for prospects and reallocate his cash elsewhere to assist match their roster.
If De La Cruz is traded, then anticipate the entire high groups in baseball to return calling for him, with groups such because the Dodgers already being strongly linked to a commerce for the Reds’ star shortstop.
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