Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who has a full no-trade clause and $179MM remaining on his contract, maintains that he would prefer to remain in Cincinnati, as MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon writes. Votto produced an outstanding .326/.434/.550 line in 677 plate appearances last season, and it sounds like he wants to remain a Red as long as the team can still find a use for him. The Reds, of course, are rebuilding, and have traded a long string of veterans in the past couple years, including Todd Frazier, Johnny Cueto, Jay Bruce, Mike Leake and Aroldis Chapman. It sounds, however, like neither Votto nor the Reds have any desire to add Votto to that list, at least not right now.
“I’ve worked really hard to not look [bad] in my career and I’ve worked really hard to be a loyal worker, and I’d like to keep that going,” says Votto. “Until I feel like I’m being shuffled out, you saw [that] last year with Brandon [Phillips], you saw it in Philadelphia with Chase Utley. Until I start feeling like the broom is on my heels, I’ll be a really nice guy. If I feel the broom on my heels, I’ll be a bit of [a jerk]. I’m not going to be a nice guy.”
Votto adds that he looks up to stars in other sports who have been able to play their entire careers with one team. “I admire [the NBA’s] Tim Duncan in San Antonio,” he says. “Never once did you hear about him going anywhere. Or [the NFL’s] Tom Brady in New England. Never once do you hear about him going anywhere, because they hold up to their end of the bargain by performing at a certain level and teams are excited to keep them.”
Reds GM Dick Williams repeats that he has made no efforts to trade Votto this offseason. Two weeks ago, he said he had not spoken with Votto about the possibility of waiving his no-trade clause.
Votto then trampled the reporter’s camera and exclaimed, “psyche!”.
Can’t wait to see you in Toronto JV!
Just wait until it’s a slow day at the winter meetings and one of the beat writers is out of things to write about. I’m sure in a week we’ll have another “Votto trade to Toronto” trade speculation article because the writer thinks it would make sense
that does not mean that the reds should not listen to offers or try and make a deal the reds are not going to be a contending team for the next 2 to 3 years
Votto is under contract for 7+1 years, he doesn’t care about the next 2-3. It’s entirely up to him, not the team, so no, the team should absolutely not make him mad by “listening to offers”.
I’m interpreting that slightly different than you. Votto should absolutely care about the next 2-3 years because if they’re extremely bad, what’s the point of him playing at his ridiculously high level? I’m not advocating for him to go out and demand a trade, but on the Reds front office part, their job is to make the team better. And if somebody calls and makes them a Votto offer, it would be in the best interest of the organization to at least hear them out; not to actively shop Votto to the league, but at least listen to what other organizations are offering.
“What’s the point of him playing at his ridiculously high level?”
To entertain the fans? To do his job? There is no “point” to it, it’s his contract and he has a full NTC 5/10 rights. If he wants to be awesome on a bad team, that’s his prerogative. He clearly wants to be known as a 1-team player. Not everything has to be about putting the best players on the best teams. Ernie Banks never played in the postseason. Please get this video game mentality out of your mind.
“their job is to make the team better.”
And they have a HOF 1B in his prime, how can they improve on that?
“it would be in the best interest of the organization to at least hear them out”
Read all the actual quotes by Votto above. No, making their franchise player mad is not in the best interest in the organization, at all. The concept of a franchise player seems totally lost on you, which, I don’t know what to tell you, fix that?
There’s zero point in getting into anything serious until they ask Votto if he’d approve a trade to the team interested.
Besides that, it’s likely going to turn into a pretty ugly contract. I don’t think there would be near as much interest as fans think.
HOFer’s skills don’t decline like regular all-stars do, and giving a 39 year old Votto $25M in 2023 isn’t going to be that big deal. NL will probably have the DH by then anyway so its entirely moot.
But the thought of “Well they should at least listen to offers on him!” is whats being argued here, and that’s totally ignoring literally every fact about reality. It’s some videogame-level train of thought, it’s not real world at all, that’s what I take umbage with.
He’ll need to put up those same numbers another 4-5y, or play solidly longer than that (not superstar class) to get into the HOF.
Tony Oliva quality numbers, as of yet hasn’t gotten anyone enshrined in last 50y, other than deadball era players.
I guess that’s a decent comparison, but Votto has displayed consistently more power. I think his sparkling batting averages and insane total of walks help his case. If he gets to 400 homers, I think he sneaks in.
I hope there is never a DH in the national league. As long as I am alive I want to watch real baseball. It’s bad enough they took the play at the plate away and breaking up the double play at second. I almost feel like I’m watching a T ball game now. Maybe they’ll quit keeping a score and just give out participation awards.
And watching inept hitters futilely slash at balls isn’t like watching a T-ball game?
> And they have a HOF 1B in his prime, how can they improve on that?
By trading him before he’s old, declining, and expensive.
Joey has had a nice career but at this point, he’s not even close to being a HOF candidate.
The only other players to hit .300/.400/.500 for their career like he has are Hall of Famers. So yeah he’s pretty obviously a very very very serious candidate.
It doesn’t matter what you think. The decision is entirely up to Votto, and right now he has absolutely no interest in waiving his no trade clause, so it would be incredibly pointless to even begin trade discussions. He might change his mind in a few years, but right here right now he can’t be moved so there’s no point in even trying.
Baseball is a game that players all have to play offense and defense. That’s the way the game was meant to be played.
right now, the numbers for Votto don’t support his being in the HOF. Maybe a few more good seasons we can talk. But right now, only 221 HR’s for his career and he’s never lead the lead in any major categories but he does have an MVP on his resume. He needs to be over 400 HR’s before we can really have that debate and keep in mind, he just turned 33, a time when most players are in decline.
“And they have a HOF 1B in his prime, how can they improve on that?”
By getting multiple players who could be ready to contribute by the time they’re competitive again, and having them for a lot longer collectively than even Votto is under contract for.
Just assuming Votto will still be a 6 WAR hitter years from now and therefore would be irreplaceable even in 3-4 years, is crazy. Your HOF’er argument is extremely flawed, because you’re already assuming Votto is a HOF’er and therefore will have the same longevity as HOF’ers. It’s a strange sort of circular logic. Most HOF’ers become HOF’ers precisely because of that longevity, not because all players of a certain caliber are guaranteed to have sustained success into their late-30’s. History is littered with talented players who couldn’t sustain their peak success long enough to be HOF’ers.
Besides, you need only look at Pujols to see that the HOF argument isn’t without flaws: a HOF’er who was on pace to go down as one of the top-5 greatest hitters of all time, yet hit the wall when he was younger than Votto already is; he hasn’t had an .800 OPS season since 2012 when he was 32.
That’s a bit of an unfair comparison as they have different body types. Pujols is bulkier while Votto is leaner even though they have similar weights and heights. Plus, Pujols strived more to be an all around player throughout his career- stealing bases and winning gold gloves. While Votto has a gold glove and some steals to his credit, I don’t think he puts the same pressure on himself to succeed outside of hitting which I think may prolong his career. There’s also the toll of starting over in a new, bigger city on a new team, of which Votto may or may not experience.
“Until I start feeling like the broom is on my heels, I’ll be a really nice guy. If I feel the broom on my heels, I’ll be a bit of [a jerk]. I’m not going to be a nice guy.”
Man this guy is such a weirdo, hahaha
Hahaha. That was a strange comment! I haven’t seen him speak much, is he not good at articulating things.
To cut past that. To see a player want to spend their entire career with on team is admirable. I think it must be annoying and distracting to have to listen to this
stuff all the time. Or listen to it about teammates you like playing with.
I don’t think there are enough players who play for the same team their entire career. I’d like to see more. It makes it really hard to hate someone when they turn up on your team a year later… I’m all confused and sometimes I’ll yell abuse at them accidentally just because it’s muscle memory!!
I agree, I like the 10+ year veteran 1-team player, its so rare now but so admirable.
Votto, Wright, Pedroia, Longoria, Mauer, Molina, Zimmerman, Braun, Gordon, Verlander, Felix, Weaver, Cain & Wainwright are a special group of players, and it stinks hearing about any of them being traded.
It’s been really rare throughout history, not just now. Remember, babe Ruth played for three teams, and that was 50 years before free agency.
It’s. Even rare throughout baseball history. Not just now.
the yankees are one of the few franchises that have had quite a few players spend their entire MLB careers with one team. Jeter, Riviera, Bernie and Posada are the latest. The Rangers haven’t had any. The Cardinals last player to spend his entire career in a Redbirds uniform (10 plus years) was Gibson and his career ended 40 years ago. But not many hall of famers, either.
Pretty sure part of it is because he is Canadian, therefore the common phrases or metaphors can be a bit different. Otherwise, I think there are a few things: 1) He is a little passive aggressive 2) Humor is his way out of the heat of the spotlight 3) fans and media can be consistently critical douches
i watched him all last year. goofy as the day is long. wish we could trade right now
Why would you wish you could trade one of the best hitters in the game because he’s’ “goofy”? Moronic sentiment.
not becase he’s goofy just want the reds to get out of this contract and move on with this rebuild.
Average players are getting 10+ million a year these days, and that’s only going to go up. Votto is one of the best in the game and his contract is fine.
agree to disagree
Andrew McCutchen said he wanted to stay in pittsburgh too…..the reds will trade votto….it happens.
Doesn’t he have a NTC though
Well, unlike McCutchen, Votto has something called a “No Trade Clause.”
If Toronto doesn’t re-sign Encarnacion…..hide and watch….at some point in the next year they’ll be trading for Votto.
sorry jays fan, no trade clause
Skyline chili is a hell of a drug.
You don’t hear about Tim Duncan or Tom Brady getting traded anywhere because they are one of the best in their positions AND sign very reasonable contracts.
But in baseball, when you are trying to rebuild your team (which takes years in baseball) and you have an expensive contract like Votto’s, then yes, don’t be surprise to hear your name in trade talks.
1. There WAS talk about trade scenarios with Tom Brady once he reaches the twilight of his career
2. Votto’s contract is becoming more reasonable each year, not less
3. Nowhere did he suggest that he was surprised to hear his name in trade talks
You don’t hear (heard in Duncan’s case) about them being traded because their teams have been consistently great. If their teams were dumpster fires and they decided to rebuild, I can guarantee that Bill would listen on Brady. Not going to happen anytime soon though.
The hard salary cap in football makes Brady – and most Star QBs – untradeable. A team would have to release like ten players to trade for Brady. QBs make a highly disproportionate amount of their team’s salary.
Tim Duncan made something like 240 million dollars in his career so I’m not sure what you’re thinking about with him.
Again, Votto has a full NO TRADE CLAUSE.
Sounds like someone should have a come to Jesus meeting with Votto. You have a great contract and a no trade clause, yet if they hint that they’d like to move you while they are rebuilding, you’ll turn into a jerk?
Hmmmm
I’d rather a player say what he and every other player would be actually thinking in that situation rather than the vanilla responses we always get.
oh yea.. Hmmmmmm
Why should cinci listen to offers on a franchise player if he says he is happy and wants to be part of the rebuild ? He is still under contract for a lot of time, they will eventually be a competitive team again, don’t forget they had a very good team not too long ago in 12 or 13 when they had shin soo choo before he signed his terrible contract with the rangers
Sounds downright juvenile. “Uhmmmm, if you try to trade me, I’ll show you. I’ll just act like a jerk, nah nah nah.” Go get em, Joey.
Duncan and Bradey took less money to stay with their teams. Then ownership could afford to keep and bring in more talent around them.
salary cap issues in the NFL/NBA. not so in MLB. and the Spurs/Patriots are contenders. Reds are not.
Tim Duncan made 240 million dollars in his career. He probably couldn’t have made that anywhere but in San Antonio.
Surprisingly, I could’ve seen him ending up in Boston if he was ok with being traded. Maybe Votto for Benintendi deal.
Mike Trout of the NL? Great player on a garbage organization.