Red Sox's Top Trade Target Once Stole 67 Bases and is Coming Off 30-30 Season originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Reports indicate that over the past year or so, the Boston Red Sox have been interested in trading for Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds' star shortstop is among the best players in Major League Baseball and has continued to prove it over the past few seasons, blasting 30 home runs and stealing 30 bags last season while hitting .283 and posting an impressive .880 OPS.
Throughout a lot of his career, he's continued to show that not only does he have a chance to make an impact on a contending team, but he can also be a superstar at the highest level, including a 25-home run and 67-stolen base performance back in 2024, the first full year we saw him in Major League Baseball.
While moving on from De La Cruz might not be the best decision for the Reds, reports indicate they've considered it.
One writer suggested the Reds need to move on from him, and if they do, going after the two-time All-Star would make too much sense for the Red Sox.
“Should the Reds even consider trading De La Cruz? The short answer is, yes. He'll enter arbitration for the first time this winter, and is under team control for just three more seasons.
"There's little reason to believe the Reds and De La Cruz will come to terms on a contract extension, so in order to maximize his value, Cincinnati should look to trade him before the start of the 2028 season,” Drew Koch wrote.
Adding another infielder could create a problem for the Red Sox's plans, but nothing really has to change, even if they call up Franklin Arias.
The Red Sox could still have a core infield of Arias, De La Cruz, Trevor Story, and Curtis Mead.
One of those guys would have to be the designated hitter on any given night, but in terms of offensive production, trading for De La Cruz would be the right decision, even if it raises some defensive questions that need answering.