Cincinnati Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz / Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/GettyImages

The Cincinnati Reds are in contract extension season, and fans are eager to see their young stars, like Elly De La Cruz, sign long-term deals with the team. De La Cruz, the talented shortstop, has shown significant improvement from last season to this year, and his potential seems limitless at just 22 years old.

Although there haven’t been any official discussions about a contract extension between the Reds and De La Cruz, it’s likely that the team’s management has at least considered the possibility of securing their budding star with a multi-year offer.

FanGraphs recently made contract extension predictions, including one for De La Cruz. If the Reds were able to sign him to the extension projected by FanGraphs, it would be an exciting development for Reds fans. The projection suggests a nine-year, $192 million contract extension, with an average annual value (AAV) slightly above $21 million. This AAV is slightly lower than Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million contract extension signed in 2012.

Such a contract would cover all of De La Cruz’s arbitration years and keep him in Cincinnati until his age 31 season. However, considering De La Cruz’s current performance, some may argue that the projected deal undervalues his potential. For comparison, Bobby Witt Jr., a shortstop for the Kansas City Royals, recently signed an 11-year, $288 million contract, and he is seen as a comparable player to De La Cruz.

If De La Cruz and his representation were open to a contract similar to FanGraphs’ projection, Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall would be wise to do whatever it takes to secure his signature. The potential contract extension for De La Cruz will certainly be an intriguing storyline to watch, whether it happens in the near future or further down the line.