Joey Votto still believes he has much more in the tank after his injury-filled 2023 season. Recently, he stated on The Dan Patrick Show, “I want to play again for at least another year.” He added that he would play for another team if the Cincinnati Reds decided to release him.
Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million contract with the Reds will soon expire. In 2024, he has a club option for $20 million, but it is unlikely that they will exercise it. Instead, they will likely exercise the termination option and pay him $7 million.
If the Reds buy out his contract, they have the option of signing him for less money or letting him leave and focusing on developing a young core of players. The Reds are on the verge of becoming a playoff team, and they don’t have much space for Votto, but it’s difficult to imagine him playing for another team.
Joey Votto is a legend, but the Reds may have little interest in him.
Votto has been one of the greatest players over the past two decades, but at age 40, he still has a lot to offer. However, the longer he continues to perform and struggle, the more his legacy will diminish.
Votto has struggled over the past two seasons, but 2021 could be his breakout year. If he re-signs with the Reds, it is unlikely that he will be able to play full-time; he will likely be a bench bat who occasionally appears.
Votto is capable of playing both first base and designated hitter. Spencer Steer, who is much superior and only 25 years old, prevents him from playing first base, and the DH spot goes to Christian Encarnacion-Strand or others who do not fit into the everyday lineup.
It is uncertain whether Votto will depart the Reds, but he desires to play baseball once more. He still has a substantial amount of fuel in his tank; it simply depends on whether they wish to drain it completely.
