CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds offered star shortstop Elly De La Cruz a long-term contract extension last spring that would have been the largest deal in franchise history.

Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall confirmed the offer on Friday. Krall said the team presented the offer during Spring Training in 2025, but there were no further talks after that.

De La Cruz declined the extension and chose to continue playing under his current contract. He is not eligible for arbitration until the 2027 season. Arbitration allows a player with several years of service time to negotiate a higher salary based on performance, with a third party deciding the salary if the player and team cannot agree.

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The largest contract in Reds history remains Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million deal signed in 2012.

De La Cruz is considered one of the most dynamic young players in Major League Baseball. In 2024, he became just the fifth player in league history to record at least 20 home runs and 60 stolen bases in a single season. He finished that year with 25 home runs and 67 stolen bases, becoming the youngest player to reach those marks.

The 24-year-old has been Cincinnati’s everyday shortstop since making his major league debut in 2023.

De La Cruz’s 2025 season was uneven at times, as he dealt with a left quad injury during the second half of the year. The Reds have said they still view him as a key part of the team’s long-term plans.