5 Scott Boras negotiations that'll give Reds fans hope for Elly De La Cruz extension

According to Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall, the club engaged in long-term contract discussions with Elly De La Cruz this past offseason. However, there are no current talks between the Reds and De La Cruz's camp.

This is both good and bad news. The Reds at least understand the benefit of getting a long-term deal done — that's the good news. The fact that both sides were unable to match up, however, will make Reds fans uneasy.

Scott Boras is currently De La Cruz's agent, which makes the notion of extending the shortstop quite unlikely. Boras oftentimes prefers to take his clients to free agency and allow the open market to dictate how much money they're worth. There are, however, a handful of examples of Boras and teams working out long-term contract extensions ahead of free agency.

5 Scott Boras negotiations that'll give Reds fans hope for Elly De La Cruz extension

Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros have agreed to not just one, but two contract extensions during his career. The former AL MVP inked a five-year, $151 million deal in 2018, and signed a contract extension with Houston last offseason that will make him an Astro for life. Fans in Cincinnati would love to make De La Cruz a Red for life.

Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

Contract extensions for pitchers are far more risky, and they don't come much riskier than the seven-year, $175 million deal between the Washington Nationals and Stephen Strasburg. The All-Star's deal contained an opt-out after 2019, which he exercised, only to turn around and sign another seven-year deal — this time it was worth $245 million. Strasburg retired after the 2022 season, but the Nats still owe over $25 million per year through 2029.

Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies

You'll have to go back to 2011 to find one of the more notable contract extensions Boras ever worked out, and it just so happened to be with the Colorado Rockies. Budding superstar Carlos Gonzalez signed an eight-year extension worth $80 million that bought out all of of the outfielder's arbitration years plus three years of free agency. If Cincinnati were to do the same with De La Cruz, he wouldn't reach the open market until after the 2032 season, at which time he'd still be just 30 years old.

Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers

Elvis Andrus inked an eight-year, $120 million extension with the Texas Rangers prior to the 2013 season. The deal was actually the second extension Andrus signed with Texas, but his first contract only covered his arbitration years. That's certainly an avenue the Reds could explore with De La Cruz, but that bring little more than cost certainty into the equation, and would similar to the two-year, $8.8 million deal the Reds signed with Jonathan India prior to the 2024 season.

Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox

Xander Bogaerts has since left Boston, but the shortstop signed a six-year, $120 million extension with the Red Sox in 2019. The superstar exercised his opt-out clause after 2022 and landed an 11-year, $280 million deal with the San Diego Padres. That deal now looks like a drastic overpay on the part of the Friars.

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