The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pursuit of a championship repeat ended in humiliation on October 15th, a four-game sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS. Now, just 15 days later, the baseball world is buzzing with a rumor that could redefine the franchise’s future. A former Cincinnati Reds general manager has thrown a name into the trade winds that would send shockwaves through the sport: Elly De La Cruz.
The suggestion, floated by Jim Bowden, is not a report of active negotiations or a confirmed deal. It is a strategic assessment, a blueprint for how the Dodgers could pivot from a devastating playoff exit to an even more terrifying roster for 2027. Bowden’s logic is simple: the Dodgers have a $390 million payroll problem and a glaring need for speed and infield stability.
De La Cruz, at a projected $5 million salary next year, is the cheapest superstar available.
This is not a random pipe dream. Bowden, a former Reds GM himself, laid out a multi-tiered plan for the Dodgers’ offseason, with De La Cruz as a primary alternative. His first suggestion was a blockbuster for Washington Nationals’ duo James Wood and CJ Abrams, but he quickly pivoted to De La Cruz as the fallback option.
The very fact that a former executive is publicly connecting these two franchises signals that this is a conversation worth having.
The Dodgers’ front office, led by Andrew Friedman, has never shied away from aggressive moves. They traded for Kyle Tucker last offseason, signing him to a massive $57. 2 million annual deal.
They pay Shohei Ohtani $46 million a year through 2033. They have Mookie Betts locked in at $30. 4 million annually.
Adding De La Cruz, even with a future extension, would be a financial puzzle, but one they have proven they can solve.
The numbers behind De La Cruz are staggering. In 2026, he hit . 283 with a .
365 on-base percentage and a . 515 slugging percentage, good for an . 880 OPS.
He finished fourth in all of baseball by FanGraphs WAR with a 6. 4 mark, trailing only Pete Crow-Armstrong, Bobby Witt Jr. , and Yordan Alvarez.
He has now posted three consecutive seasons of at least 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases, a feat only a handful of legends have ever matched.
His 2024 season was historic, as he swiped 67 bases while hitting 25 homers. That combination has only been achieved by Ricky Henderson, Eric Davis, Ron Acuna Jr. , and Joe Morgan.
De La Cruz is not just a good player; he is a generational talent who changes the geometry of the field every time he steps on it. For a Dodgers team that stole just 14 bases combined from Betts and Tucker, his speed is a transformative addition.
The fit on the field is undeniable. Betts, who turns 34 next season, is nearing the end of his tenure at shortstop, with many analysts predicting a move to second base. De La Cruz, a natural shortstop with a cannon arm, would slot in perfectly to anchor the infield for the next decade.
He fixes a defensive question mark while simultaneously adding a middle-of-the-order bat that opposing pitchers will dread facing.
However, the Dodgers’ roster is not without its flaws, and De La Cruz has his own. His strikeout rate is a concerning 27. 5%, placing him in the 16th percentile of all hitters.
He chases pitches outside the zone with alarming frequency, leading to a whiff rate in the 29th percentile. But when he makes contact, the results are devastating, with an average exit velocity in the top 3% of the league and a barrel rate in the 98th percentile.
The financial mechanics of this potential deal are where the story gets truly wild. The Dodgers’ luxury tax payroll for 2027 is projected at $390 million, a staggering $140 million over the tax line. Their estimated tax bill alone is $61 million.
Yet, De La Cruz’s salary for that same year is a paltry $5 million, a fraction of what they pay their other stars. He is under team control through 2029, meaning his cheap years align perfectly with the Dodgers’ payroll relief timeline.
For the Reds, the calculus is entirely different. Their 2027 payroll sits at just $147 million, leaving them nearly $100 million in breathing room under the tax threshold. They are under no financial pressure to sell.
Owner Phil Castellini has built a team around De La Cruz, who is considered royalty in Cincinnati, joining Eric Davis and Joe Morgan on the list of franchise icons with 20-homer, 30-steal seasons.
The Reds have already proven they are willing to say no. At the August trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox offered a package of prospects for De La Cruz, but Cincinnati balked when Boston refused to include their top prospect, Franklin Arias. The Reds are not interested in a pile of unproven talent; they want young, major-league-ready players who can contribute immediately.
This is the crux of the entire negotiation.
The Dodgers’ farm system is ranked number one in baseball, but it is top-heavy. Their best prospect, Josue De Paula, is an infielder who just reached the majors, but the depth behind him is thin. To satisfy the Reds’ demands, the Dodgers would likely have to part with a package centered around De Paula, Dalton Rushing, and a young pitcher like Emit Sheen.
That is a steep price, even for a player of De La Cruz’s caliber.
The Reds’ hesitation is understandable. They finished last in the NL Central this season, and De La Cruz is the primary reason fans still buy tickets. Trading him away would signal a full rebuild, a move that owner Castellini has been reluctant to make.
Yet, De La Cruz himself has hinted at discontent, turning down the largest contract offer in franchise history in January 2026, a deal that exceeded Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million extension.
The narrative is further complicated by the voices of Reds legends. Joey Votto, a franchise icon, has publicly stated that the Reds should trade De La Cruz for as many prospects as possible, arguing that one player should not consume a third of the payroll. Bowden echoed this sentiment, suggesting that a deal makes sense for both sides.
When two men with deep ties to the organization say “sell,” it adds legitimacy to the rumor mill.
The Dodgers have a history of making the impossible happen. They traded for Tucker, signed Ohtani, and have never been afraid to push the luxury tax limits to the absolute brink. They view De La Cruz as a “spare Ferrari” in a garage already full of supercars, but the cost of the parking spot is the issue.
The question is not whether he fits the roster, but whether the math works for a Reds team that holds all the leverage.
For now, this remains a hypothetical, a radio hit that has spiraled into a national conversation. Bowden did not report that the Reds are shopping De La Cruz, nor that the Dodgers have made a formal offer. He simply stated that the idea makes sense, and that is enough to ignite the baseball world.
The Dodgers have the financial muscle and the prospect capital to get a deal done, but they will have to overpay to pry him away.
The clock is ticking. De La Cruz is projected to earn $5 million in 2027, but that number will rise each year he remains in arbitration. Every passing day makes the Reds’ asking price higher and the Dodgers’ discount smaller.
If Washington refuses to part with Wood and Abrams, De La Cruz becomes the next name on Bowden’s list, and that is when the phone call becomes a reality.
The Dodgers are coming off a sweep that exposed their lack of speed and their aging infield. They have a $143 million tax problem and a desperate need for a dynamic, cheap star. De La Cruz is that player, a 24-year-old phenom who just hit 30 homers and stole 30 bases.
He is the answer to their prayers, but the Reds are not a charity, and they will demand a king’s ransom in return.
This is a story about leverage, desperation, and the cold reality of baseball economics. The Dodgers have the best potential trade package in the sport, but the Reds have no reason to sell. The only thing missing is a phone call, and if that call happens, the entire balance of power in the National League could shift overnight.
For now, we wait, but the whispers are growing louder.
