Torey Lovullo received a one-year contract extension back in June, and it looks like a longer-term deal might soon be in the works for the Diamondbacks manager. GM Mike Hazen told MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert that when Lovullo’s extension was being negotiated over the summer, he told the skipper “we got to get through the rest of the season. And I said if good things happen and we get to the playoffs and we get where we need to go, that he and I will have another conversation.”
Needless to say, plenty of “good things” have indeed taken place. The D’Backs reached the playoffs, upset the NL Central-winning Brewers, and are two wins away from upsetting the Dodgers and reaching the NLCS for the third time in franchise history. Lovullo and Hazen both joined the organization prior to the 2017 season, and with Hazen’s new deal keeping him in Arizona through at least the 2028 campaign, it makes sense that Lovullo would also be getting some extra security. With the D’Backs going through some struggles prior to 2023, Lovullo had been kept on something of a short leash, as his previous two contracts had been a one-year deal with a club option (that was exercised), and then the one-year extension from June that has him locked up through the 2024 season.
More from around the baseball world….
- Now that Joey Votto has said he wants to return next season, the question is whether or not the Reds will exercise their $20MM club option on Votto’s services, or buy out the option for $7MM. In the view of Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, “the financial side of the decision on his option should be a no-brainer” given how Votto is worth more than $13MM as “a meaningful draw and revenue-enhancing player brand.” Votto has become synonymous with Reds baseball on an international level, as Wittenmyer points out that Nike listed Votto 13th on their list of highest-selling jerseys. With more revenue pouring into the Reds in terms of attendance and TV ratings, Wittenmyer feels it would be a misfire to let a franchise icon walk away, or even to give other teams a chance to negotiate in free agency.
- Evan Carter’s immediate impact helped the Rangers reach the playoffs, and then advance past the Rays and take a 2-0 lead on the Orioles in the ALDS. It has been quite the start for a player who just made his MLB debut a month ago today, and who was universally seen as a bizarrely huge reach when Texas selected him in the second round of the five-round 2020 draft. Yahoo Sports’ Hannah Keyser explores how the Rangers found Carter as a high schooler in Tennessee, with that interest sparked because ex-pitching coordinator Danny Clark happened to be a childhood acquaintance of Carter’s father. “We just kind of identified him a little bit earlier in the process and really liked him,” scout Derrick Tucker said, and few other teams even got a chance to see Carter play because the pandemic canceled his senior-year baseball season. Though Carter hadn’t cracked even top-200 (from MLB Pipeline) or top-500 (from Baseball America) rankings, and despite the little margin for error in the shortened draft, the Rangers still make the pick and seem to have found a hidden gem.
- The Guardians haven’t traditionally spent much on bullpen acquisitions, but Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer feels the team will “do more than kick the tires when it comes to trying to” re-sign Reynaldo Lopez. Picked up off waivers by the Guards as part of their last-minute playoff push in late August, Lopez couldn’t have pitched any better during his brief time in Cleveland, with a perfect 0.00 ERA over 11 innings of relief work. With a 3.14 ERA over 189 innings in 2021-23, Lopez has quietly become a very solid reliever since his full-time move to bullpen, and it figures to land him one of the more lucrative contracts of any free agent reliever this winter. This might represent something of a splurge for the cost-conscious Guardians, but obviously they liked what they saw in the righty’s work.
Agreed. He’s been in the Reds organization since ’02. You can’t let him leave.
At this point, a comp for Joey Votto is maybe CJ Cron, e.g., I estimate a 2024 Votto and a 2024 Cron will be of roughly equal value. I recognize that for a career Cron is just an oridnary guy and Votto is a borderline HOFer due to his amazing on-base percentages.
You give Votto the buyout. You then offer him $5 million to resign with $1 million bonuses for 300, 400 and 500 plate appearances.
Votto should not be taking plate appearances away from Spencer Steer, Jonathan India, CES, Noelvi, DeLaCruz or McClain.
If Votto wants to go to Toronto for the same money, you let him.
@manny
You can’t just look at it from a fantasy baseball perspective. No, he is not comparable to Cron. Cron has little value at the concessions, or ticket windows. If Votto makes a retirement after ’24 announcement, which is likely, there will be fans in every city buying tickets to see him one last time. For a small market team, every aspect of revenue is important. When placing a value on Votto after the buyout, consider that Cincinnati would now be competing with other teams. The buyout of $7MM is paid. It doesn’t factor into the new offer. There is such a lack of hitting in FA, someone will be interested for at least Pujols money to JDM or Turner money. Due to his history in Cinci, he will generate the most revenue for them. Do the fans really want to see him for the last time in an Angels or Guardians uniform?
There’s no way Votto would be worth $13M in extra attendance/net revenue. Sorry. A game or two with improved attendance at the end of the season does not equal $13M. He’s been terrible 3 of the last 4 years and there’s no statistical model that would predict an upturn at age 40. It doesn’t diminish his legacy to let him go elsewhere if he can get a deal.,
You’ve got a team on the cusp of doing great things and that money, from a team with limited payroll flexibility, can most definitely be spent improving elsewhere on the roster.
PoisonedPens2 hours ago
There’s no way Votto would be worth $13M in extra attendance/net revenue.
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Their attendance in 2022 was the lowest since 1984. No one showed up to see Votto.
However, their attendance jumped 643,000 last year. They come to see the team win.
Further, he will be a bench player. Is there even a single person in here that would go to a game to see their favorite player sitting on a bench?
Spot on! Attendance improved this year because of the young dynamic talent and they were winning. Votto’s value at drawing in fans is highly over-valued in this article.
Wrong. Votto on a farewell tour is worth at least 2,000 extra tickets at home. Easily. The average ticket price at GABP in 2023 was about $25.
That’s $4.5M. Just for tickets. Add in concessions and merch. Even parking. And that’s just the home games revenue.
It’d leave $13M in the rearview.
It’s also a community investment, a proper goodbye to the best Reds hitter of the last 50+ years.
Therein lies the tremendous difference between Gross and Net Revenue. Payroll comes out of the Net, not the Gross. 2000 extra tickets do not equal 2000 tickets worth of profit!
Operating expenses don’t disappear because Joey Votto is waving at fans and collecting grandfather clocks from other teams.
How many games is he even going to play? Is it a wise investment to pay someone $13M extra $$$ for 65 or so games of a 99 OPS and .200 BA at best? Because that’s who the numbers say he is right now. Is it a wise plan to take AB away from the Spencer Steer and CES of the world? Best Reds hitter? Of your lifetime, maybe?
The numbers say he’s not even an MLB HOF’er. Borderline at best. WAR is his friend as is OBP, but the conventional stats of hits, homers, RBIs all fall well short.
No thanks.
No thanks is right! He is the past. He is not the future and taking at bats and playing time away from anyone is a mistake. He is putting a lot of pressure on the Reds right now. I don’t like the direction this is headed.
well votto is old enough to be on the Mets now so..
He’s had a great career, but what does it matter that he’s been there since 2002? The game plan now is what’s proven to be a great young crop of players. Votto simply takes at-bats away from them. Now if you mean a bench player for a much reduced salary, I could get behind that.
Yes, your last statement. That’s the role I think he should take. But what does anything matter in baseball? Many would argue it’s about glory, history, and memories. Yeah I’d like for the Reds to win the World Series but Votto being a lifetime Red is also a significant desire. It’s like Willie Mays going to the Mets or Ruth to the Braves. No one wants that.
Lopez was already in the Sox bullpen before the great purge of what few good players the team had. Before he was traded Lopez was throwing 100+ mph in the closer role for a team that had little need for a closer.
Texas beating Baltimore was probably a given, but the victory against Tampa was a surprise. I hope Texas can keep up their luck against a top Houston team.
Don’t overlook Minnesota.
If I’m the Reds you pay him. And set up the personal services contract like pujols. It’d be good to have him around with the team starting to win. He’s the modern face of the franchise.
Votto, the guy who said he wants to be Taylor Swifts second boyfriend?
Weird guy in my opinion.
He should retire now. He has no value remaining.
That’d be half your team when they’re paid more than Votto to be worse in their 40’s.
Half your team wants to be Taylor Swifts second boyfriend? Where does that leave Katy Perry? Having to settle for the Pirates, and an occasional Marlin?
No, half your team wants to be paid more than Perry Swift drinking a 40oz outside Lord & Taylor at the Pine Oaks Mall.
I can see the attraction, but Swift seems like very high maintenance.. Perry too, but I can see her having a beer at the bar.
Katy Perry? She still around?
You need to keep better count of how many ex-boyfriends Swift has. Just count her hit songs.
>keep better count of
> how many ex-boyfriends Swift has
“To Infinity and Beyond!”
—Buzz Lightyear
Reds fans do this all the time. Let the dead bury the dead. We need pitching. It costs money. We don’t need a 20 million dollar mentor.
We need to move on & win a championship. I don’t recall him mentoring players in all our losing years!
You can say that again
Dude he doesn’t really need to say it again; we could just re-read his comment if it didn’t sink in the first time. Did you sleep thru Internet 101 ?
You can say that again
Reds fans do this all the time. Let the dead bury the dead. We need pitching. It costs money. We don’t need a 20 million dollar mentor.
We need to move on & win a championship. I don’t recall him mentoring players in all our losing years!
Na na na na na na, na na na, na. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Say it again!
Reds fans do this all the time. Let the dead bury the dead. We need pitching. It costs money.
We need to move on & win a championship. I don’t recall him mentoring players in all our losing years!
Bears repeating but I’d cut out the first sentence. We get the point, but a pithier comment would have more lasting impact, imho.
Let the dead bury the dead. We need pitching. It costs money.
We need to move on & win a championship. I don’t recall him mentoring players in all our losing years!
It’s Deja Vu all over again
Wonder what joegriff thinks on the matter. What say you?
He seems like the type who wants the dead to bury the dead, but I wonder if he will also go forth and proclaim the kingdom of Votto? (Luke Weaver 9:60)
Just curious if there are any Diamondbacks fans out there who dislike Lovullo or think he’s a poor manager? Because he seems like a really cool guy & superb communicator to me, but this is the first time I’ve really focused on him since they’re in the playoffs & I’m an American League guy, etc. Thnx
Say it again, Sam
I’m sure there are a number of casual fans that wanted him canned ’20-’21, but most of the knowledgeable fans knew that he was just playing the hand that he was dealt.
He’s been a “player’s manager” the whole time he’s been here, and he’s been here long enough that there is a high degree of familiarity between him and the players. He’s almost loyal to a fault, but most everybody responds to it.
He’s very good at setting expectations and communicating them, and fortunately Mike Hazen has put the staff and players in place to take advantage of that trait.
I’ve always liked Torey; the enthusiasm, the passion, the loyalty, the communication, the continuity, pretty much everything he brings to the table.
The biggest gripe anyone could bring is his bullpen decisions due to his loyalty, but mandates for Hazen to cut costs on the roster left him with bullpens held together by chicken wire and chewed bubblegum; I’ve always been willing to give both Mike and Torey slack on that, because the only continuity the organization has had is ownership….
And the nicest way I can say it is that I’m not fond of ownership in the slightest.
A local Arizona Republic columnist, who likes to stir the pot, suggests every Phoenix area pro or college coach should be fired at their respective seasons end. I’m sure he lobbied for Torey to be fired in the wake of the 110 loss season and probably last year, as well. I’m patiently awaiting his mea culpa. Alas, I think I will be waiting a long time.
They can bring Votto back for a lot less than $20MM, or less than the $13MM difference between the buyout and $20MM. He’ll only have an impact of any significance on ticket and jersey sales as a Red. Negotiate a one year deal that negates the buyout and is south of $20MM. The Reds save a few million while also benefiting from a revenue bump as they market his final season. They’re worth more to each other than apart. This shouldn’t be difficult to arrive at a number.
Let the dead bury the dead. We need pitching. It costs money.
We need to move on & win a championship. I don’t recall him mentoring players in all our losing years!
Seems familiar. Can you cite a source for your observations?
Farm dogg Joe Griff quoted Jesus.
Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:59-60
The reds are notorious for using the media to promote their terrible management decisions. And keeping votto is right up their alley of terrible management decisions. They do it frequently, as recent as the last management extension. No other franchise would sign or offer Bell an MLB job. Yet prior to extension- reds used all their media puppets to promote the idea and then demand he get an extension- persuading the general public into thinking it’s a good idea. No doubt they are doing the same thing to keep votto around.
Enter the door mat, Gordon Wittenmyer. A puppet on a string whose job it is to tug on your heart strings. He’s Controlled media and the reds are taking a page from the good ol usa fed gov.
Like it or not reds fans. He’s coming back.
There is zero chance the Reds pick up Votto’s $20 million option. Gordon Wittenmeyer must be on Votto’s payroll to even suggest it’s possible.
Gordon Wittnenmyer is an idiot…ZERO chance the Reds exercise Votto’s option. Who is this clown?
And for the record I have said the Reds should bring him back for $1-$3M for the exact same reason. That he will put butts in the seat. But he’s not going to put $13M worth of butts in the seats. That’s just asinine and reminds me of the fake journalism and casual disinformation spread by the media these days.
Buy Votto out for 7M. He gets 7M whether he plays or not. Offer him 7 M to play for the Reds.
If Toronto offers more, let Votto decide if it’s money or Reds he wants for finale.
West, it doesn’t work that way. We owe JV $7M either way. If he goes to another team we owe him the money on top of what the other team pays him. Look, no one appreciates what JV has done more than I. We have 1B and DH more than covered. It’s time to look to the future and move on. Spend the extra money on pitching and/or a stud RF. Mark by words, some of you will be complaining by next June about how JV is dragging down the club.
We have more good young players at the ML level than we have positions for. Pay Votto the 7 million and use the excess money to sign a starting pitcher anchor like Sonny Gray and a couple of bullpen pieces. . You can easily replace Votto’s production and more with what we have on hand.. Forget the concessions etc and put the money and effort on winning. Vottto’s time is over. He should realize that.
Bringing back Lopez would be great. I’d be pretty surprised if the Guardians actually do it because that’s not usually how they operate with relievers, but he was great for them and they need some bullpen depth for all the close games they find themselves in.
They should let him go and hope he signs with the Pirates. No one will come out to watch him sit on the bench. But the Reds might get another 10,000 per game for 7 games when the Pirates visit.
Better yet, have a Votto bobblehead doll day earlier in the season, and retire Votto’s number on his last visit to Cincy. That would be almost a guaranteed sell-out.
If I need 1 AB to make a positive contribution in 2024, give me Votto over EDLC, India, or Stephenson. India needs to go and Votto should be the 1B/DH vs RH in a platoon with CES. Votto’s OPS of .7.47 bested Stephenson, India, & EDLC. His OPS+ of 99 was subpar but still better than EDLC, Stephenson, and only one behind India.
If healthy (admittedly a big ‘if’) his stats are comparable with entrenched starters. This + his economic and intangible value to the city and team make resigning him a no-brainer to me.
Not for nothing, but the Castellini’s face a HUGE reputational problem within the city. Thanks to Phil’s idiotic comments + Bob’s 16-year-long fire sale, they are viewed in the city as cheap and lacking the respect for the historic, beloved franchise they own. Letting Votto go would exasperate those political problems for the ownership group in a big way.
Resigning Votto is a win-win scenario for the Reds. Get it done.
Boston letting Lovullo get away was idiotic. He’d be a far better manager than Kike Cora.
Votto should re-sign for the league minimum on top of his 7mil buyout. He’s been massively overpaid (except for his 2021 comeback) for the last 6 seasons. Yes he’s an icon in Cinci and I hope he come’s back but 20mil, C’mon.
Votto’s contract actually worked out much better than many of these long term deals. Compare his production to, say, Robinson Cano – who was also signed on a 10-year contract through 2023.
You’re right, there have been many big contracts that were way, way worse (Miggy for example). And Votto is extremely popular. My point is that the author thought that the Reds might pick up his 20mil option which I think is absurd.
It’s an extra $13M to pick up the option, since the team is paying $7M regardless. Still an overpay but not ridiculously so.
Speaks well for Votto though. Can’t be many other players coming off 10-year contracts where people would even consider arguing for picking up an option for an 11th season at age 40(!)