Even Sal Stewart’s Rookie of the Year win doesn’t change Elly De La Cruz’s Dodgers reality for Reds

You would think that after Sal Stewart took home the NL Rookie of the Year Award, the Cincinnati Reds would pivot to doing everything in their power to keep their young core together. Besides, it won't take much to compete in a very winnable NL Central next season. However, as superstar Elly De La Cruz continues to take his game to new levels, his price tag is also reaching uncharted territory. While this spells bad news for the Reds, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to lick their chops. 

De La Cruz has long been rumored to have a future in Los Angeles. With a personality large enough to match his endless potential as a ball player, he almost seems destined to wear that Dodger Blue at some point in the near future. Whether from a blockbuster trade or the Dodgers throwing a blank check at De La Cruz in free agency in a few years, it just remains to be seen how it all unfolds. While that is music to any Dodgers fan's ears, it is absolutely heartbreaking for those in Cincinnati. 

With 32 home runs and 112 RBI, Stewart clubbed his way to the top rookie honors in the NL. As a power bat capable of driving in runs by the truckload, Stewart seems like the perfect complement to a player like De La Cruz. But with the Reds taking a step back in 2026 and a payroll that is getting increasingly expensive for the small market team, holding onto a golden ticket like De La Cruz is just not feasible in the long run.

With the Dodgers sporting baseball’s deepest and most-talented minor league systems, it almost seems like a formality at this point that the two teams will eventually be able to make a deal involving the superstar shortstop. 

The Dodgers could overwhelm the Reds with an enticing trade package for Elly De La Cruz

As one of the hottest teams in baseball by the end of April, the Reds appeared to be ready to make the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time in over a decade. But the 2026 season was particularly cruel to the Reds. Injuries ripped through the team and limited their potential as a ball club. Even as Stewart launched his offensive onslaught on MLB pitchers, it wasn't enough to overcome the losses of key players like Hunter Greene and Spencer Steer. 

Things won't get any easier for the Reds in 2027. With Greene out for the entire season as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery, the team would likely have to spend even more money in order to compensate for his loss. As the potential of a blockbuster De La Cruz trade with the Dodgers stares the Reds right in the face, the opportunity to reload their roster for the future may be too irresistible to pass up. 

As mock trades continue to churn, the Reds do hold all of the cards for now. But would the Reds organization be willing to risk not cashing in on their best player? De La Cruz’s value may never be higher than it is right now. The Dodgers already have the prospects to make a trade worth it and the Reds could use the helping hand. 

It can be tough work being a baseball fan. Outside of the occasional postseason heartbreak, it can be a frustrating experience watching your favorite players come and go. Superstars like De La Cruz are never guaranteed to stick around with one team for the duration of their careers. Even with supporting players like Stewart collecting ROTY honors, the Reds are just not in a position to run it back in 2027.  

The Dodgers currently have a number of baseball's top prospects that the Reds could take advantage of. Although none of them are De La Cruz, it beats losing him for nothing in return. It may not be a popular move among Reds fans, but it is the smartest move.

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