Story byGrant MonaSat, February 28, 2026 at 2:26 AM UTC·4 min readCincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona is not losing any sleep over Elly De La Cruz's decision to turn down a franchise-record contract extension, and he wants everyone else to relax about it too. Francona appeared on "Foul Territory" this week and spoke openly about his star shortstop choosing to bet on himself rather than lock in long-term financial security with the Reds. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 24-year-old turned down what would have been the largest contract in Cincinnati history during spring training last year, an offer that would have topped the 10-year, $225 million deal Joey Votto signed back in 2012."We love the kid," Francona said. "Players have a right to either take money early, bet on themselves late, I get it. And we have him for four more years regardless, but that's a personal preference, and nobody will ever hold that against him."Why De La Cruz Turned It DownIt is not hard to see why De La Cruz passed on the extension when you look at the current market. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStars like Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani have signed massive deals that have pushed the bar to new heights, and De La Cruz, a Scott Boras client, clearly feels his best payday is still ahead of him. He does not hit arbitration until 2027 and will not reach free agency until after the 2029 season, so there is still plenty of time for both sides to revisit things. De La Cruz told reporters at Redsfest that he lets his agent handle all of the contract talk, and Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall has shown nothing but respect for the decision. De La Cruz is still on a pre-arbitration contract making an estimated $820,000 in 2026, which only adds fuel to the idea that a much bigger deal could be waiting for him down the road. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Flaws Are Real, But So Is the UpsideNobody is saying De La Cruz is a finished product.
