Reds laying groundwork for an Elly De La Cruz backup plan nobody asked for

Elly De La Cruz is one of the most electrifying players in all of Major League Baseball, but it's highly unlikely that he'll spend his entire career in a Cincinnati Reds uniform. That may be difficult for Reds fans to hear, but it's the truth.

De La Cruz is currently in his second full-year in the big leagues and will become a free agent after the 2029 season. By that time (if not before) the Reds will need to have a succession plan in place. Based on the organization's current crop of young shortstops, it would seem that Cincinnati is already laying the groundwork for life after Elly.

The Reds have one shortstop prospect ranked among the top-100 according to MLB Pipeline, and several others who've been high draft picks in recent years. The Reds have high hopes for the trio of Edwin Arroyo, Sammy Stafura, and Tyson Lewis, and it's quite probable that one of those young infielders will be occupying the shortstop position at Great American Ball Park in just a few years.

A Reds-Elly De La Cruz contract extension is a pipe dream

The Reds' brass will tell you that spending first and second-round picks on high-upside athletes is part of the organization's draft strategy — and that may be true. But it's also a way of actively and continually keeping uber-talented shortstops at the ready if (and when) De La Cruz is no longer on the Reds roster.

The Reds' window to negotiate a long-term deal with De La Cruz is far from closed. He may not even become arbitration eligible before 2027 — though he may achieve Super Two status this offseason — meaning that Nick Krall and the front office have a lot of runway to piece together a long-term extension for the the franchise's most popular player since Joey Votto.

But there are several things working against the Reds, not the least of which is De La Cruz's representation. Scott Boras is De La Cruz's agent, and unless that changes between now and the time Cincy's shortstop reaches free agency, the chances of a long-term extension are slim to none.

Boras prefers to take his clients to the open market where they can entertain multiple offers from several different teams. Being that De La Cruz plays a highly coveted position and is extremely marketable, there'll be no shortage of suitors. A handful of organizations wouldn't bat an eye at the idea of offering De La Cruz a contract similar to that of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or even Juan Soto.

Reds prospects Edwin Arroyo, Sammy Stafura, and Tyson Lewis will be here before you know it

Every single Reds fan knows that Bob Castellini won't (and probably shouldn't) fork over $500 million-plus to keep De La Cruz in Cincinnati for the next decade, which is why the Reds are grooming their young infield prospects to eventually take over at shortstop.

Both Stafura and Lewis have tremendous upside. Stafura's had a hot-start at Low-A Daytona this season and could be on his way to High-A Dayton at some point this summer. Lewis — who might be able to go toe to toe with De La Cruz in a foot race — is extremely raw, but his talent is through the roof. The Reds paid over $3 million to keep him from honoring his college commitment last summer, which is an indicator of how highly they view the 19-year-old.

Arroyo is far superior defender to De La Cruz at shortstop right now, but his bat has always lagged behind. Those Reds fans who are constantly critical of De La Cruz's defense will love Arroyo's slick fielding at shortstop, but his lack of power could be a concern over the long haul.

Though unpopular, the Reds could always consider moving De La Cruz to the outfield if one of these young prospects forces their way to the big leagues sooner than expected. Stafura and Lewis, however, are at least two, and possibly three years away from making their MLB debuts. Arroyo could be called up as soon as this season, but the Reds may choose to give him more reps in the minors instead.

De La Cruz will be with the Reds for at least the next three or four seasons, but after that, all bets are off. Enjoy him while he's here, Reds fans. All good things come to an end, and at least the Reds' front office has a backup plan in place... even if you didn't ask for it.

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