Doug McKain has made the kind of blunt trade call that instantly gets attention: he would trade the farm, including Josué De Paula, for Elly De La Cruz.
It is a striking verdict, but also one that underlines how highly the Cincinnati Reds value their star shortstop. De La Cruz is still under team control through three arbitration years after the 2026 season, which only adds to the difficulty of any realistic pursuit.
McKain's case for Elly De La Cruz
McKain's view was tied to the Dodgers' long-term infield picture. He said Mookie Betts has done an incredible job holding down shortstop in recent years, but with Betts set to be 34 next season, he suggested it may be time to move him back to second base sooner rather than later.
That is the heart of the argument. If the Dodgers want to lock in a premium shortstop for the future, De La Cruz is the type of player who changes the conversation.
His quote made the scale of the proposal clear: he would trade the farm, including Josué De Paula, for De La Cruz, who still has three arbitration years left. In other words, this is not a simple swap or a short-term fix. It is a major commitment to a player the Reds are almost certain to price accordingly.
Why the Reds hold the leverage
The broader context matters here. Last month, the Boston Red Sox reportedly had an offer on the table for De La Cruz at the trade deadline, which shows there is league-wide interest in him. But interest is one thing and actually getting him is another.
The article frames Dodgers fan interest as unrealistic because the Reds value De La Cruz so highly. That is the key point: any club chasing him would need to go well beyond a normal headline-grabbing offer.
So while McKain's idea is bold, it also feels like a recognition of the cost of landing a truly rare player. If the Dodgers ever decided to make a serious push, Josué De Paula would likely be the sort of name that would have to be in the discussion.
For now, though, this remains a statement of intent rather than a live trade report. De La Cruz stays in Cincinnati, and the debate around his value will only grow louder the longer he remains available in theory, but not in practice.
