Reds, Votto Discussing Multiyear Contract
The Reds and Joey Votto are "working hard" on a multiyear extension for the reigning NL MVP, tweets SI.com's Jon Heyman. Votto, who is eligible for arbitration for the first time, is currently under team control through 2013.
Heyman suggests Votto and the Reds could end up agreeing to a three-year contract, which would only buy out the 27-year-old's arbitration seasons. In such a scenario, Votto would still be eligible to hit free agency after the 2013 campaign, though it would give the two sides some cost certainty until that point.
The Reds have already extended one of their lineup's cornerstones this winter, signing Jay Bruce to a six-year deal. While the Reds may not commit more guaranteed money to Votto than the $51MM Bruce will earn, the average annual value of a Votto extension would certainly be higher, even with no free agent years included. In a second tweet, Heyman indicates that, if it gets done, a three-year deal would likely be worth around $37MM.
Quick Hits: Votto, Garcia, Francis, Contracts
Some news items to take us into the weekend….
- John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer hears from some player agents that Joey Votto will submit an arbitration number between $8.5-$9.5MM, while the Reds' counter-offer will be around $7MM. Back in August, MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith suggested that Votto would ask for $7MM, but since then Votto has added a playoff appearance and the NL MVP Award to his resume. Of course, arbitration talk could be moot if Votto and the Reds agree to an extension.
- The White Sox don't have room in the rotation to bring back Freddy Garcia, says MLB.com's Scott Merkin as part of a reader mailbag.
- The Royals' agreement with Jeff Francis is "the best deal of the winter in free agency," according to Dave Cameron of Fangraphs.
- ESPN's Jayson Stark examines at the high number of expensive and/or long-term contracts signed this winter.
- Lance Berkman talks to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about his offseason training regiment and how much pressure he's putting on himself to perform for the Cardinals. "If I have a repeat of last year I'm probably out of the game," Berkman says.
- The top ten most favorable trades in Reds history are counted down by the Cincinnati Enquirer's Nick Hurm. Recent deals for Brandon Phillips and Bronson Arroyo are included, but it's hard to top the Cincinnati/Houston trade that installed Joe Morgan into the Big Red Machine.
Reds Notes: Renteria, Votto, Podsednik, Nix
Let's take a look at some Reds-related tidbits courtesy of The Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay..
- Fay writes that "it is believed" that the Reds have made an offer to free agent shortstop Edgar Renteria. The veteran said that the Giants' offer of $1MM showed "a lack of respect", leaving the Reds with a chance of signing the 2010 World Series MVP.
- The news of Carlos Gonzalez's impending seven-year, $80MMM deal with the Rockies will likely have a ripple effect on the Reds' talks with Joey Votto. Reds GM Walt Jocketty says that he hasn't seen the numbers on Cargo's new contract but Cincy can expect Votto to ask for even more money. The 27-year-old, Fay writes, had two very good years prior to his brilliant season in 2010 while last year was Gonzalez's first in the majors. Jocketty says that he hasn't talked to Votto's representation in recent weeks however due to the holidays.
- The Reds are reportedly close to signing Jeremy Hermida to a minor league deal but they may continue to look for a left-handed hitting outfielder. Jocketty confirmed that he talked to the agents for Fred Lewis and Scott Podsednik before the holidays.
- Speaking of left-handed hitting outfielders, the Reds haven't had any recent contact with Laynce Nix. The Reds were under the impression that Nix was Seattle-bound after receiving a contract offer from the M's in December, but no deal has been reached.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Reds Notes: Webb, Cueto, Votto, Podsednik
Here's the latest from the Queen City, courtesy of The Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay…
- With Arthur Rhodes set to join the Rangers, the Reds now have money to spend elsewhere, including on a shortstop, lefty hitting outfielder, and potentially a rehabbing starting pitcher.
- Assistant GM Bob Miller told Fay that the Reds have not had any recent conversations with Brandon Webb.
- Miller also confirmed that there have been no further talks with Johnny Cueto about a long-term extension. Earlier this month we heard that the two sides had some preliminary discussions about a contract.
- "That's not going to happen quick," said Miller when asked about an extension for NL MVP Joey Votto. The two sides have had some talks, however.
- Miller confirmed the team's interest in Scott Podsednik.
Short-Term Extension Likely For Joey Votto
The Reds have locked up Bronson Arroyo and Jay Bruce to extensions this month and the next logical candidate for an extension is NL MVP Joey Votto. The Reds are interested in signing the first baseman to a multiyear deal, but if they do sign him to an extension, it will likely be for less than the six years Bruce got, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter).
Free agency is proving to be lucrative for All-Star caliber players, so as one NL executive pointed out to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, top young players may be tempted by the open market.
"If you are Joey Votto and you see what [Jayson] Werth got and [Carl] Crawford got, why would you ever sign now rather than wait until free agency?" the exec asked.
Votto, 27, is arbitration eligible for the first time this winter and is on track to hit free agency after the 2013 season. He could sign a two or three-year deal without affecting his path to free agency, much like Prince Fielder did two offseasons ago.
Reds Rumors: Rhodes, Votto, Webb
The Reds signed Miguel Cairo to a two-year deal today. Here are the rest of the rumors from the Winter Meetings:
- The Reds aren't particularly close to re-signing Arthur Rhodes, since the reliever values himself differently than the team does, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Rhodes is seeking a multiyear deal. He's 41, but GM Walt Jocketty was willing to give the 36-year-old Cairo two years.
- The Reds talked to Joey Votto's agent and will offer the NL MVP a multiyear deal, but the team doesn't expect to reach an agreement soon. Votto's representatives "weren't really ready to talk about [an extension]" Jocketty said.
- The Reds were often mentioned as a speculative destination for Brandon Webb, since his Ashland, Kentucky home is relatively close to Cincinnati. However, they haven't talked to the right-hander, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer (on Twitter).
Odds & Ends: Nishioka, Uggla, Soriano, Wigginton
The typical Winter Meetings barrage of links…
- There's trade interest in newly-blocked third baseman Josh Bell, Orioles manager Buck Showalter told Yahoo's Steve Henson, though Bell can play first (Twitter link).
- Tsuyoshi Nishioka's agents are meeting with the Twins today, tweets SI's Jon Heyman. He says the Japanese infielder seeks a three-year deal.
- Dan Uggla and the Braves have talked a bit about an extension, tweets Heyman.
- The Angels have deflected trade talks about other closers because they're focused on Rafael Soriano, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.
- Ty Wigginton is the Rockies' top target for a right-handed bench bat, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, and they're meeting with his agent today.
- MLB.com's Scott Merkin talked to free agent reliever Bobby Jenks, who would like to return to the White Sox if possible. Manager Ozzie Guillen told Merkin that if Jenks does return, he would not be guaranteed the closer job (Twitter link).
- Reds manager Dusty Baker told reporters, "Joey Votto told me he wants to stay. He just wasn't ready to say he wants to stay the rest of life."
Odds & Ends: Hannahan, Votto, Cargo, Angels
Three years ago today, the Marlins and Tigers completed a six player trade that sent slugger Miguel Cabrera (and Dontrelle Willis) to Detroit. It appears another slugging first baseman will be on the move shortly, but here's some other tidbits from around the league…
- The Indians have signed infielder Jack Hannahan to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training according to the team. Hannahan, 31 in March, hit .237/.340/.374 in 392 Triple-A plate appearances this year while playing all around the infield.
- When asked about contract talks, Joey Votto told John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer "[The Reds] said they wanted to do a contract. They haven't said one year or million years. How can I comment on that?" (Twitter link)
- The Rockies, meanwhile, continue to talk to Carlos Gonzalez about a long-term contract, says Troy Renck of The Denver Post. He cautions that nothing is imminent, and it's unlikely that a deal would go beyond his arbitration years. Agent Scott Boras is known for taking his clients to free agency whenever possible.
- The Angels are not setting deadlines with free agents this winter, a change from their previous way of doing things according to ESPN's Buster Olney (Twitter links).
- Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentinel looks at what the impending Adrian Gonzalez trade means for Prince Fielder. Brewers GM Doug Melvin acknowledged that teams just aren't making young pitching available in trades.
- Lynn Henning of The Detroit News and Joe Strauss of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch write that the Tigers and Cardinals, respectively, expect to be busy during the upcoming winter meetings.
- Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer looks at how some moves might impact the Phillies in the coming weeks.
- MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo takes a look back at some Rule 5 Draft gems. This year's Rule 5 Draft takes place this coming Thursday.
Reds Rumors: Bruce, Votto, Rhodes, Cairo, Arroyo
The Reds have had preliminary extension talks with the agents for Jay Bruce and Joey Votto, and those aren't the only players GM Walt Jocketty is thinking of extending. Here are the details, from John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer:
- Jocketty says the extension Troy Tulowitzki signed will probably figure into discussions with Votto "to some extent."
- Free agent deals have been more lucrative than Jocketty expected so far this offseason.
- The Reds continue to talk to Arthur Rhodes, who's a Philadelphia target, and Miguel Cairo. Jocketty says he expects to reach a deal with Cairo.
- The Reds are also making progress on an extension with Bronson Arroyo. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe hears (on Twitter) that the talks are hovering around three years and $35MM with some deferred money. Arroyo, writes Cafardo, is "not biting yet."
Reds Will Discuss Long-Term Deal With Votto
Joey Votto is not sure about his interest in a long-term deal, but the Reds will approach the newly crowned NL MVP about an extension, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Reds GM Walt Jocketty told Fay that the team was waiting to discuss a deal until the MVP was announced to be fair to Votto (Twitter link). The first baseman was uncertain of his interest in an extension earlier in the offseason and he remains undecided.
“How open am I to that? I don’t know," Votto said. "You’d have to see the figures and talk about the years. Because we haven’t had any conversations about it. It wouldn’t be fair to comment on it. I’m not trying to dodge the question. But I’ve got nothing.”
Ryan Howard and Justin Morneau parlayed MVP seasons into big arbitration raises in recent years. Albert Pujols, who has the same agent as Votto, signed a seven-year $100MM deal with Jocketty back in 2004. It's unclear how long the Reds would like to lock Votto up for, but he has set himself up to earn over $30MM for his three arbitration seasons. Agent Dan Lozano could compare his free agent value to that of Mark Teixeira and Adrian Gonzalez, so Votto will be expensive to sign long-term.