The Cincinnati Reds secured a groundbreaking deal with Joey Votto, then 28 years old, agreeing to a staggering $251.5 million contract spanning 12 years. This landmark agreement marked the lengthiest guaranteed contract ever seen in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Votto was already committed to earning $9.5 million in 2012 and $17 million in 2013 under his existing contract. However, the newly negotiated deal injected an additional $225 million over the subsequent 10 years.
This monumental contract surpassed the previous record-holder within the franchise, Ken Griffey Jr., whose $116.5 million, nine-year deal from 2000 had held the title.
At the time of the announcement, Votto’s deal ranked as the fourth largest in MLB history in terms of annual value, following contracts such as Alex Rodriguez’s 10-year, $277 million with the Yankees, Albert Pujols’s 10-year, $240 million with the Angels, and Prince Fielder’s 9-year, $213 million with the Tigers.
Owner Bob Castellini acknowledged the inherent riskiness of such a substantial investment, especially for a small-market team, but expressed confidence in Votto’s ability to serve as a cornerstone for the franchise. He reassured that the financial commitment to Votto would not compromise the team’s future composition.
Small-market teams typically don’t commit an additional $225 million on top of the $30 million already owed to a player for the current season and the next. Such a significant financial commitment through 2023 indicates either a disregard for financial constraints or a substantial lead in investment returns, allowing for such expenditures.
Moving forward, any claims of financial limitations or budgetary constraints preventing player signings or retention by the Cincinnati Reds should be dismissed. The Reds have demonstrated their commitment to winning, with financial considerations no longer posing a hindrance.
Here are Joey Votto’s statistics and honors over the 11 seasons since signing the extension:
– Played 1,374 games
– Batting average: .290
– On-base percentage: .415
– Slugging percentage: .496
– OPS: .912
– OPS+: 142 (42% better than league average)
– Hit 223 home runs
– Recorded 705 RBIs
– Scored 776 runs
– Tallied 300 doubles
– Walked 1003 times
– Struck out 1101 times
– Accumulated a WAR of 42.7
He received MVP votes and finished in the following positions:
– 2012: 14th
– 2013: 6th
– 2015: 3rd
– 2016: 7th
– 2017: 2nd
– 2021: 16th
He was selected as an All-Star four times (2012, 2013, 2017, 2018).
Since Votto’s extension, the Reds’ performance has been as follows:
– Reds’ record: 781-899 (.464)
– Average record per season: 75-87
– Yearly records:
– 2012: 97-65
– 2013: 90-72
– 2014: 76-86
– 2015: 64-98
– 2016: 68-94
– 2017: 68-94
– 2018: 67-95
– 2019: 75-87
– 2020: 31-29
– 2021: 83-79
– 2022: 62-100
The Reds had five winning seasons out of eleven and made playoff appearances in 2012, 2013, and 2020.
The percentage of payroll allocated to Votto each season is as follows:
– 2012: $9.5 million of $74.0 million (12.8%)
– 2013: $17 million of $90.0 million (18.9%)
– 2014: $12 million of $112.8 million (10.6%)
– 2015: $14 million of $116.7 million (12.0%)
– 2016: $20 million of $89.9 million (22.2%)
– 2017: $22 million of $81.8 million (26.9%)
– 2018: $25 million of $100.6 million (24.8%)
– 2019: $25 million of $129.1 million (19.4%)
– 2020: $25 million of $144 million (17.3%)
– 2021: $25 million of $121 million (20.6%)
– 2022: $25 million of $110 million (22.7%)
– 2023: $25 million of $85 million (29.4%)
Contract terms by year, courtesy Baseball-Reference
The Cincinnati Reds have a $20 million option for the 2024 season, which is the last year of Joey Votto’s contract. Additionally, there’s a $7 million buyout clause associated with this option.
