The Cincinnati Reds did not meet their expectations this year. However, shortstop Elly De La Cruz enjoyed a huge season. He won't win the National League MVP given the presences of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Shohei Ohtani, but De La Cruz will earn some MVP votes nonetheless. The 24-year-old hit .283 with an .880 OPS to go along with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 2026. Despite having multiple years of team control remaining, former Reds star Joey Votto recently floated the idea of a De La Cruz trade.

On Thursday, Votto further explained why he believes a De La Cruz trade makes sense for the Reds, via Foul Territory. Votto was asked if he was the general manager of the Reds what move he would make.

“I would trade Elly for as many prospects as possible to start,” Votto said. “Elly is going to get $650 million dollars. Even if he doesn't get that number, he's $50-$60 (million) per year times seven just to start. Let's say the CBA changes things, he's making $350 (million) over the course of seven, six years minimum. Are you going to give up a half, a third of your payroll on one player?

“It doesn't make sense. I love Elly. I played with him in Triple-A, I watched him get called up. ”

Votto went on to explain how talented he believes De La Cruz is. The former Reds first baseman believes De La Cruz will have MVP caliber seasons in the future. Some Reds fans may point to the fact that Votto received an extension during his time in Cincinnati. Well, he addressed that as well.

“I was extended in Cincinnati on a 12-year (contract),” Votto said. “Should they have signed me? No. No, they should have flipped me.”

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It will be interesting to see how the new collective bargaining agreement impacts situations such as this. A salary cap would add a new dynamic to the situation. A small-market team like the Reds may end up with a better opportunity of signing a superstar such as Elly De La Cruz to a contract extension with a salary cap.

However, a salary cap is not guaranteed to be implemented. Nevertheless, one has to imagine the Reds will wait until after the new CBA is reached to decide whether or not to trade De La Cruz. Anything is possible, though.