Star slugger Joey Votto agreed to a 12-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds today that is the longest guaranteed contract in major league baseball history. The contract adds 10 years to his old contract, and includes a club option for 2024.
The Reds secured their 2010 National League MVP for more than $200 million, a much more expensive contract than Ken Griffey Jr. when he returned to his home town. The longest MLB deal in history is also the largest in Reds’ history.
Unlike Prince Fielder with the Brewers and Albert Pujols with the Cardinals, the Reds weren’t going to let their star get away.
“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.”
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too.