Okay, so, I’ve been digging into this whole Elly De La Cruz free agency thing, and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride. First off, I grabbed my laptop and started scouring the internet for any info I could find on this guy’s contract situation.
I found out that De La Cruz won’t even hit free agency until after the 2029 season. That’s like, five whole years from now! So the Reds have this big window to build a killer team around him. It’s like they’ve struck gold, honestly. They need to hustle and get some top-notch players to surround this young superstar and, you know, actually make a run for the championship.
Then, I started looking into what the Reds are actually paying him right now. Turns out, they’re paying him the league minimum, which is around $742,500. But, get this, he made more from the bonus pool in 2024 than from the Reds’ salary. He snagged a cool $860 extra just from the bonus pool because he’s been killing it on the field.
How will they use this to sign other free agents?
This long-term deal with De La Cruz, from what I gathered, could be a major key in attracting other big-name free agents. Players want to be on a team with a solid foundation, right? So, with De La Cruz locked in, the Reds can go out and say, “Hey, come play with this rising star and let’s win some games!”
I was trying to calculate what this guy might be worth in five years if he keeps performing at this level. Some folks are even throwing around the term “billion-dollar conversation.” Can you believe that? It’s insane to think about, but if he keeps this up, who knows?
I started imagining what the Reds need to do right now. They have to make moves, and fast. Whether it’s trading, signing free agents, or bringing up someone from their minor league system, they’ve got to fill any gaps left by, well, not having more De La Cruzes, I guess. The pressure is on for them to act quickly.
The team was at +4o net bases gained
I also noticed that De La Cruz is crushing it with net bases gained. He’s at +40, which is a big deal. It translates to +6 runs for the Reds. No one else on the team is even close, with the next best being around +1. This guy is seriously carrying the team in that department.
So, I’m thinking, De La Cruz will probably be around 28 when he finally hits free agency. And, right now, he’s the one everyone is watching. There’s talk that he could be the guy to bring the Reds back into the spotlight. He’s got this crazy mix of power and speed that’s just unreal.
There were also some whispers about a potential $400 million endorsement deal. I mean, that’s a huge amount of money for a sports endorsement. It shows how much buzz this guy is generating, not just on the field, but off the field too.
Lastly, I stumbled upon a formal report written by someone named Joe Drake. This guy was praising De La Cruz as a “tremendous athlete” with “big raw power, great speed, and a smooth glove.” It’s clear that scouts and analysts are super impressed with his potential.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I learned:
- Contract: De La Cruz is with the Reds until at least 2029.
- Salary: Currently making the league minimum but earning more from bonuses.
- Future Value: Potentially a billion-dollar player in the future.
- Team Strategy: Reds need to make moves to build a contender around him.
- Performance: Leading the team in net bases gained, contributing significantly to their runs.
- Reputation: Seen as a potential franchise player with a unique skill set.
- Endorsements: Possibly securing a massive endorsement deal.
Overall, this Elly De La Cruz situation is super interesting. It’s a mix of potential, money, and team strategy. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on how this all plays out in the coming years. It’s going to be fun to watch!
