How Joey Votto continues to impact Cincinnati Reds' October as rivals vie for World Series
The Joey Votto drama only appears to be increasing as the Cincinnati Reds mull their offseason plans, including Votto's $20 million contract option for 2024.
Adding intrigue this week was an item deep in a lengthy Bob Nightengale column Monday suggesting Votto and the Reds are on the brink of parting ways because they don't want to pick up the option and he doesn't want to return as a part-time player.
Left out of the item was the fact the Reds front office says it has yet to talk to Votto since the season ended Oct. 1.
"We haven't made a decision yet," team president Nick Krall said via text Monday.
When do the Reds have to make a decision?
The deadline for exercising the option or paying the $7 million buyout is early next month, after the end of the World Series.
And Krall is weeks away from a having a budget set for 2024.
A few days after the season ended, Votto said during an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show” that he wants to play “at least one more year” and that if the Reds were to decline the option, “then I'll have a new experience.“
“I’ll be a free agent for the first time in my professional baseball career,” he added. “I don’t know how excited I am about that.”
That backed the Reds into a high-pressure position on Votto after having outlined a farewell-season scenario with the 17-year Reds star that he has been reluctant to embrace, a major-league source said.
What details need to be figured out for Votto and the Reds?
A big issue involves how much playing time the Reds can commit to Votto with an infield now stocked with an abundance of youth, including 2021 Rookie of the Year Jonathan India (second base), Nick Senzel (third and outfield) and four rookies who debuted in 2023: middle-infielder Matt McLain, shortstop/third baseman Elly De La Cruz, first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand and third baseman/shortstop Noelvi Marte.
How many of them are locked into the opening lineup? How many will be on the opening roster? How does a much-needed left-handed bat like Votto's factor into the baseball side of those decisions during an age-40 season less than a year removed from a return from a 10-month shoulder injury?
Looming in the background is the first-base/DH opening created by Brandon Belt's departure from Votto's hometown Toronto Blue Jays, which might be the one franchise besides the Reds that would benefit from significant marquee name value from Votto beyond baseball performance.
Krall has called Votto a "franchise icon" he can't imagine playing for anyone but the Reds, a unique player in a scenario like this whose value in every aspect from baseball to clubhouse influence to off-field marketing brand comes into play.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds: No Joey Votto decision despite report of likely split
