Joey Votto's take should have the Yankees ready to trade the farm for Elly De La Cruz

After yet another year ending in postseason futility, the New York Yankees need a change. While it seems that is unlikely to come in the front office or at the manager's desk, there's hope that the franchise can get inspired and make waves like they did in the days of yore.

Well, maybe not too much hope. The rumblings have already come out that the Yankees aren't looking to replace Austin Wells behind the plate, but rather to find a better complement to him than Ali Sanchez. A low bar indeed. Even when there's good news, like the rumor that New York is looking to ditch Ryan McMahon, it comes with a twist of the knife, like the revelation that the club is unlikely to pursue Japanese superstar Teruaki Sato.

It's still early, though, and perhaps the uninspiring rumors we're hearing are due to the fact that nothing truly intriguing has presented itself. That might change, though, if the Cincinnati Reds listen to one of their franchise icons, Joey Votto, and put Elly De La Cruz on the trade block.

"I would trade Elly [De La Cruz] for as many prospects as possible to start," Votto told AJ Pierzynski on the Foul Territory podcast. "Elly's going to get $650 million. Even if he doesn't get that number, he's 50 to 60 per year times seven, just to start. You know, let's say the CBA changes things; he's making $350 million over the course of seven years, minimum, six years minimum. Are you going to give up half or a third of your payroll on one player? It doesn't make sense."

The Reds made an extension offer to De La Cruz in the spring of 2025 that was supposedly in excess of the 10-year, $225 million deal they gave Votto in April of 2012. The offer was swiftly rejected, and De La Cruz, a Scott Boras client, has only leveled up since then, fueling speculation that he could be baseball's next $700 million man.

Now the superstar shortstop is entering arbitration for the first time and is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to make $7.9 million in 2027, a huge jump from his 2026 salary of $800K. Before we even talk about extensions or free agency, it's important to note that he's only going to get more expensive for the Reds from here on out. Interestingly, Votto also said that the Reds shouldn't have signed him to that extension years ago and would have been better off trading him. Maybe the 2015 Yankees should've nabbed Votto in an alternate universe, too.

Elly De La Cruz is the game-changing superstar the Yankees need to move on from the Aaron Judge era

Votto makes a solid point. The Reds' labor payroll came in a hair over $128 million in 2026 per Spotrac. Retaining De La Cruz at the number he's expected to make when he hits the open market would indeed eat up nearly half that amount, making it unfeasible for them to build a contending roster.

The young shortstop currently has three years of team control remaining, meaning now's the time when his value is at its peak. Conveniently for Cincinnati, he's also coming off his best season as a pro.

De La Cruz posted his first 30-30 season in 2026 while slashing .283/.365/.515. All three of those marks in his slash line were career highs, as was his 11.3% walk rate. A switch-hitter, De La Cruz suffered from Jasson Dominguez syndrome, struggling against left-handed pitching and carrying a career .607 OPS against southpaws into this season. Then he started off hot against lefties and never cooled off, recording a .990 OPS against them this year.

At 24 years old, De La Cruz is almost a full year younger than Spencer Jones. He's still scratching the surface of his true potential. In September, he slashed an eye-popping .348/.437/.719 with nine homers in 24 games, all while playing on a bum quad.

De La Cruz is a physically imposing specimen at six-foot-six. With an average exit velocity of 94.7 miles per hour in 2026, he's one of the few players in the game who is in the same stratosphere as Aaron Judge (who posted a 95.4 mile per hour average exit velocity in 2025) when it comes to hitting the ball hard. He also has one of the strongest arms in the sport, coming in at 92 miles per hour on average, and has blazing speed for his size.

This is a player who theoretically could come in and play second fiddle to Judge for the next couple of seasons, and then, once he hits his peak, can take the mantle from the three-time MVP and be the face of the franchise for the next decade. He's that young and that talented.

That means if the Reds take Votto's advice, nothing should be off the table. George Lombard Jr. can go in a package for De La Cruz. Spencer Jones, too. If the Yankees have to part with Elmer Rodriguez and Carlos Lagrange, do it. There should be no one untouchable for a talent like this. Alongside Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler, the Yankees would have a better nucleus moving forward than at any point during the Judge era.

The Red Sox were reportedly lurking, attempting to deal for De La Cruz at the trade deadline. That should give the Yankees even greater motivation to make a Godfather offer. Put it all on the table, block Boston, and get one of the best players under 25 that the game has to offer. Talk about big moves; this is the biggest splash New York could make.

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