Scott Boras just gave the Reds another reason to prioritize a Sal Stewart extension

Scott Boras just gave the Cincinnati Reds every reason to sign Sal Stewart to a long-term contract extension this offseason. In no uncertain terms, baseball's super-agent basically revealed that Elly De La Cruz has no intention of signing a long-term deal and will enter the free agent market after the 2029 season.

"He plays the premium position," Boras told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer (subscription required). "He also has age that no one else has. So once you establish those parameters, you now say what? ‘Oh, excuse me, this isn’t about time when you’re the steak. We don’t care what dinner time is.’

“Because the fact is, when you’re the steak, you sit there and wait for what? You wait for what the market brings. And you listen.”

This should hardly be considered a shock. Boras has long maintained that taking a player to free agency — where all 30 teams have the opportunity to present their finest offer — gives his clients the best chance to maximize their value.

De La Cruz will enter Year 1 of his arbitration window this coming offseason, meaning his time with the Reds organization has already reached the midpoint. If Cincinnati had offered De La Cruz a hefty extension following his rookie season, there's a chance Boras would've abandoned his long-held stance and negotiated a long-term deal.

Former (and current) Boras clients like Elvis Andrus, Stephen Strasburg, Xander Bogaerts, and Jose Altuve are some notable exceptions who've signed extensions rather that wait for free agency.

Scott Boras' Elly De La Cruz comments should prompt the Reds to extend Sal Stewart now

Boras' comments have taken the Reds' slim hope of retaining De La Cruz and dashed it to pieces. As such, Cincinnati's leadership must pivot and lock down another one of their budding stars before he follows the same blueprint.

Stewart has already showcased immense talent during his first full season in the big leagues. Heading into Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, he leads the league in RBI (107) and is the odds-on favorite to win the 2026 NL Rookie of the Year Award.

The Reds made a long-term commitment to Chase Burns earlier this year, signing the flamethrower to a seven-year, $105 million extension. It's time for the Reds to do the same with Stewart.

Many other organizations have already shown the Reds the way. The Pittsburgh Pirates signed their young phenom, Konnor Griffin, to a long-term deal. The Detroit Tigers inked the likely AL Rookie of the Year Kevin McGonigle to a multi-year extension. And even Stewart's closest competition in the NL Rookie of the Year race, JJ Wetherholt, recently signed an eight-year pact with the St. Louis Cardinals.

With the MLB lockout looming, several insiders are predicting several extensions and free-agent deals will be signed before the December 1 deadline. Reds fans are hopeful that Stewart is among those who'll have a new deal in place before the CBA negotiations bring a halt to team-player interactions.

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