Reds face painful Elly De La Cruz reality after Joey Votto's contract prediction

Joey Votto predicted that Elly De La Cruz will sign a 12-year, $700 million contract ($58 million annually) when he reaches free agency at age 28, citing De La Cruz's defensive skills and 5-6 Wins Above Replacement seasons as justification. Only Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto have signed contracts of $700 million or more in MLB history, and the article suggests De La Cruz has not yet reached their production level despite his potential. De La Cruz previously rejected a deal larger than Votto's franchise-record $225 million extension, making it unlikely the Reds could afford to keep him long-term, potentially forcing a trade decision before his 2029 free agency.

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