CINCINNATI — On Saturday, the Cincinnati Reds declined Joey Votto's $20 million option for 2024, making the first baseman a free agent and likely ending his 17-year career in Cincinnati.
Votto will get a $7 million buyout to complete his contract that guaranteed $251.5 million over 12 seasons.
Reds general manager Nick Krall said during a conference call that Votto was in Spain when he notified him on Thursday morning. Krall said he had discussed the move with CEO Bob Castellini, citing that this was not a financial decision.
“We don't have a spot for him to play right now,” Krall said. “We need to get other players at-bats, so that's where the decision was.”
For now, there was no discussion of a new deal.
During the 2023 season, Votto hit .202 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs in 65 games. He didn't play his first game with the team until June 19, 10 months to the day after having surgery on his left biceps and rotator cuff.
A six-time All-Star and the 2010 NL MVP, Votto has a career average of .294 with 356 homers and 1,144 RBIs.
“We’re not closing the door on anything,” general manager Nick Krall said. “I just think with the players we have on our roster right now, there’s no playing time. We’ve got to figure out how to get playing time for some of these players to keep moving forward, and I think that’s where we are right now. Something could happen, but right now it’s not there.”
The Reds also declined its part of a $4 million mutual option with catcher Curt Casali, who will receive a $750,000 buyout.
Casali, 34, hit .175 with six RBIs over 50 games in his first season with the Reds.
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