The Toronto Blue Jays have long been searching for another superstar bat. Over the last three years, they struck out on Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Kyle Tucker, and most recently lost a star of their own in Bo Bichette. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains the cornerstone that every team in baseball would dream to start with, and there are plenty of solid pieces around him, but we can’t beat around the bush: they need to find another star to pair alongside him moving forward.
That’s much easier said than done, especially via free agency, where heavy hitters in Los Angeles and New York tend to outbid everyone, which Toronto has experienced firsthand of late. For that reason, perhaps it makes more sense for Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro to turn to the trade market, and one extremely interesting name just might be emerging as a potential target: Elly De La Cruz.
Just last week, team reporter C. Trent Rosecrans revealed in an article for The Athletic that De La Cruz turned down a monster extension offer from the Reds last spring, raising eyebrows around major league baseball, particularly given how difficult it is for smaller markets like Cincinnati to retain star talent long-term.
“Last spring, the Reds made an offer to shortstop Elly De La Cruz that would have eclipsed Joey Votto’s club-record 10-year, $225 million contract extension that he signed in 2012. De La Cruz turned it down. De La Cruz, who celebrated his 24th birthday earlier this week, is eligible for arbitration for the first time in 2027. He will be eligible for free agency following the 2029 season,”
The 24-year-old De La Cruz is coming off another strong year, having hit .264 with 22 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases over a full 162-game schedule.
His raw talent ranks among the best in baseball, with the arm, power, and speed to become a true superstar once he’s able to fully develop and put it all together. The idea of slotting De La Cruz in front of or behind Guerrero Jr. in the Blue Jays lineup is tantalizing, given not only what he can do at the plate but also on the base paths. Not to mention he’d fill the void left by Bichette’s departure at short.
What Could It Cost the Blue Jays to Land Elly De La Cruz?
The biggest challenge is simple: acquiring De La Cruz won’t be cheap. The Reds know his value and would certainly demand a hefty package that includes some of Toronto’s top prospects.
Two names that would probably draw the most interest are Arjun Nimmala and recently drafted JoJo Parker, both shortstops aged 19 and 20. Giving up on such young talent before they even reach the majors is never easy, but the Blue Jays are in it to win now — and for the foreseeable future, so if that’s what it takes to land a player like De La Cruz, whose potential is still just scratching the surface, it could be worth the cost.
Beyond prospects, a contract to shed some money and give Toronto the flexibility to eventually extend De La Cruz would also be required. None of this should scare Ross Atkins and the front office; they’ve shown a willingness to spend big in recent years. The obstacle they haven’t been able to overcome is outspending the likes of the Dodgers and Mets, whose pockets are basically endless.
Because of that, if the Blue Jays truly want to land a game-changing star, a trade may be the way to go — and De La Cruz is one player who deserves a close look.
Next: Mets Make Splash, Acquire Luis Robert Jr. from White Sox
