Elly De La Cruz's dinner with Scott Boras actually dropped possible big Reds hint

Following social media posts is a slippery slope for those hoping to get an inside track on the news. I mean, how many times did we have to hear that Trey Hendrickson was disgruntled last offseason before he ultimately just returned to the Bengals for one final "hurrah?"

That being said, sometimes it's okay to follow the trail of breadcrumbs a player or reporter leaves, and oh boy is Elly De La Cruz leaving some premium Panko on the ground for all of us right now. The star shortstop shared an Instagram story where De La Cruz was out to dinner at local haunt Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse, feasting on a luxurious dinner with none other than agent Scott Boras.

Boras, of course, has represented De La Cruz since he broke into the professional ranks as a superstar prospect. If there's a reason for him to be back in Cincinnati in the middle of a season, it's hard not to think it involves some extension discussions with the Reds.

Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But as De La Cruz marches forward in his best season to date, it's hard not to dream upon a record-setting pact that'll keep the 24-year-old around for the next decade or longer.

Elly De La Cruz's greatness this season may force the Reds into uncomfortable financial territory

For those wishing to rain on this little parade, it's true that Boras' presence in the Queen City doesn't guarantee a forthcoming extension. It's not uncommon for agents -- even ones with as many clients as Boras -- to spend some quality time with the players they represent. It's also true that Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported that Nick Krall denied any speculation about new extension discussions.

Still somehow in pre-arb, De La Cruz isn't due to become a free until after the 2029 season, at which point he'll be in his prime at 27 years old. Regardless of how the impending lockout and CBA negotiations affect the salary structure of contracts in the sport, De La Cruz is going to become one of the most well-compensated players of all time if he reaches free agency.

That's especially true if his 2026 breakout is a mere taste of what's to come. Through his first 41 contests this season, the Reds' No. 3 hitter is batting .288/.354/.521, good for a career-high 140 wRC+. He's already hit 10 home runs and stolen nine bases, making him a virtual lock to reach the 20-20 club for the third straight season if he stays healthy. Just from that production alone, that looks to be very expensive when contract talks get going.

Combine all of that with a defensive renaissance at shortstop, and De La Cruz has already been worth 2.1 fWAR this year, tied for the fifth-highest total in the league. For the sake of the Reds' wallets, let's hope that Boras' trip to Cincinnati just happened to coincide with some discussions about keeping his star client around for a long time to come.

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