Home / Sports / Reds Consider Trading Star Elly De La Cruz?
Reds Consider Trading Star Elly De La Cruz?
29 Oct
Summary
- Reds may trade Elly De La Cruz to Tampa Bay for prospects.
- Grady Emerson and Caden Bodine are top prospects in return.
- De La Cruz has three years of team control remaining.
The Cincinnati Reds face significant offseason decisions, with a hypothetical trade involving star shortstop Elly De La Cruz gaining attention. A proposed deal suggests sending De La Cruz to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for three prospects: MLB No. 12 prospect SS Grady Emerson, MLB No. 41 prospect C Caden Bodine, and RHP Brody Hopkins.
Emerson, an 18-year-old drafted second overall in 2026, showed potential despite a small sample size in Single-A. Catcher Caden Bodine, 22, impressed in the minor leagues with a .342/.410/.517 slash line and 99 RBIs across four levels in 2026, offering a solution at a position of need for the Reds, especially with Tyler Stephenson entering free agency.
However, the trade's likelihood is doubtful. The Rays typically develop talent internally rather than trading top prospects for established players. For Cincinnati, receiving multiple top-100 prospects would be the minimum to consider trading De La Cruz, who is under team control until 2029 and coming off a career-best season with a .880 OPS.
The Reds may eventually need to consider trading De La Cruz, as his agent, Scott Boras, makes an extension unlikely before free agency. Such a move now, with three years of team control, would require an exceptional offer, likely exceeding the proposed return, to justify parting with one of baseball's most talented players.
