|
Reds’ Votto agrees to $251.5M, 12-year
contract
yahoo sports
CINCINNATI- Joey Votto got a big payday by staying in a small market,
agreeing to a $251.5 million, 12-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds on
Wednesday that is the longest guaranteed contract in major league
history.
The agreement adds $225 million over 10 years to his previous contract.
The deal includes a club option for 2024, when the 2010 National League
MVP turns 41.
After watching NL Central rivals St. Louis and Milwaukee lose their
first basemen to bigger markets, the Reds secured Votto with a package
that easily eclipsed Ken Griffey Jr.’s $116.5 million, nine-year deal
from 2000 as the largest in franchise history. In the majors, it trails
only Alex Rodriguez’s $275 million and $252 million deals, both over 10
years.
“Is it risky?” said owner Bob Castellini, who sought a lot of outside
advice before signing off on the deal. “No doubt. That’s the
environment we live in, especially as a small market. We feel Joe will
be a cornerstone.”
It wasn’t an easy decision for the 28-year-old Votto to make such a
long-term commitment. He decided he had found contentment in
Cincinnati, which took him in the second round of the 2002 amateur
draft.
“Maybe I could have found that elsewhere,” Votto said. “Maybe not. But
I like what I’ve got here.”
Under Castellini, the Reds have been trying to rebuild the franchise
into a regular winner by developing players and holding onto them. Six
of their nine starters on opening day have come through the farm system.
Keeping Votto rather than letting him leave for a bigger market was
considered a key.
“It’s hard to compete with the bigger markets,” manager Dusty Baker
said before a workout at Great American Ball Park. “You see those guys
who have left - they couldn’t come up with a deal - and they go to
bigger markets like New York, L.A., Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit,
Anaheim.
“It means a lot not only for the franchise but also for the city. It
means kids can grow up emulating him and pretending to be Joey Votto.”
Albert Pujols helped St. Louis win the World Series, then got a $240
million, 10-year deal from the Angels in December. Prince Fielder led
Milwaukee to the division title, but left for a $214 million, nine-year
contract with the Tigers.
The Reds have been trying to lock up the young core of their team for
the past few years. Outfielder Jay Bruce received a six-year, $51
million deal after the 2010 season, when Cincinnati won the division
but got swept in the playoffs by Philadelphia.
Votto was offered a long-term deal then as well, but chose a $38
million, three-year contract instead. He said he’s more willing to make
a long-term commitment now, and joked his girlfriend probably was happy
about that, too.
Votto gets base salaries of $9.5 million this year and $17 million in
2013 under his previous agreement. The new deal includes salaries of
$12 million in 2014, $14 million in 2015, $20 million in 2016, $22
million in 2017 and $25 million in each of the following six seasons.
The Reds have a $20 million option for 2024 with a $7 million buyout.
Votto’s contract tops the 11 seasons Colorado gave Todd Helton in 2001,
a deal that guaranteed him $151.45 million.
It’s an aggressive move for a small market franchise. Castellini said
Votto’s deal won’t handcuff the franchise in keeping other players or
Baker, who is entering the final year on his deal.
“What we’re doing will not be to the financial detriment to the makeup
of our team in the future,” he said.
The Reds essentially kept their roster intact after their 2010
championship season and slipped back to third place last year. They
changed strategies in the past offseason, trading for starter Mat Latos
and reliever Sean Marshall while remaking their bench.
Votto is the fulcrum of an offense that is one of the most productive
in the NL, playing in one of its most homer-friendly ballparks. Votto
batted .324 with 37 homers and 113 RBIs in 2010, and followed that by
batting .309 with 29 homers, 103 RBIs and a career-high 40 doubles last
year.
His contract eclipses the deal that Griffey got to return to his
hometown team in a trade with Seattle in 2000 as the richest in club
history. Griffey was the face of the franchise then, even though much
of his time in Cincinnati was spent recovering from injuries.
Now, it’s Votto’s turn.
“It means a lot to the city to have Joey as the face of the franchise,”
Baker said. “He’s a very good role model for the task.”
Votto’s shy personality came across during a news conference broadcast
live to announce the deal. He practiced reading a statement beforehand,
but acknowledged that he was nervous. When he stumbled over a word, he
joked, “There was a typo right there.”
Finally, he put the paper aside and talked about how he’d react to the
deal.
“I always try to do my best,” he said. “I can’t promise you anything
going forward. I can’t promise you health or promise you production. I
can promise you I’ll do my best.”
|
|
|
|
