Reds' Elly De La Cruz Says 'I Don't Think About' Contract, Future MLB Free Agency

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz has emerged as a superstar, and while he won't be a free agent until 2029, the organization would assuredly love to sign him to a long-term extension well before then.

De La Cruz, however, is focused on the present.

"I'm going to tell you something: I don't think about the future," he told Charlie Goldsmith of Cincinnati Magazine. "I don't keep thinking about what's going to happen. Am I going to be this or that? I prefer today. I live in today. I live day by day. I don't think about those things."

That mentality is working just fine for the 23-year-old shortstop, who is already a two-time All-Star and one of the young faces of the sport. He's been fantastic in 2025, hitting .283 with 19 homers, 72 RBI, 80 runs, 29 stolen bases and a .848 OPS. While he isn't going to match last season's MLB-leading 67 stolen bases, he's also been better at the plate (.809 OPS in 2024) and has the Reds (58-53) just 3.5 games back of the final NL Wild Card berth.

And he's only going to get better. The future is bright for the superstar shortstop, who will sign a massive contract at some point, whether in Cincinnati or as a free agent. But for the moment, he's more focused on the here and now.