Despite rumblings that reigning NL MVP Joey Votto could be available this offseason, Reds GM Walt Jocketty says the team will hold on to the first baseman, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter). Jocketty indicated that the Reds will try to lock Votto up to a long-term deal within the next year. Here are a few other items of note from Heyman's Twitter feed:
- The Reds are among the teams who have contacted the Braves to inquire on Jair Jurrjens.
- GM John Mozeliak said the Cardinals haven't met face-to-face with Albert Pujols since the season ended, but that they've touched base with Pujols and his agent, and plan to meet.
- The Mets think Jose Reyes will give them a chance to match his best offer before he signs anywhere, but know that he's not obligated to do so.
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo says if he were to pursue an impact first baseman like Pujols or Prince Fielder, he'd need to make a companion move to open up the position.
- The White Sox aren't closing the door on Mark Buehrle, but GM Ken Williams feels it'll be tough to fit him into their payroll.
THANK YOU JOCKETTY! Now, will people please stop posting stupid trade rumors and wish lists involving Votto?
probably not, no
“We will not trade Colby Rasmus” – right up until Colby Rasmus was traded.
Colby Rasmus is not even close to Joey votto
Half the talent, twice the attitude
Nothing to do with talent. Availability
What? Did you think they were cousins?
And where did I say they were?
You think the Reds will trade Votto to Toronto?
no
Any chance that the Reds trade Brandon Phillips, assuming they can’t extend him?
Probably not until at least July. They have really nobody to replace him in the Minors.
No one can “replace” the production of Phillips anyways, rare talent on both sides of the ball
He’s pretty talented with that Twitter too.
As a Cards fan it was pretty refreshing to read his comments during the postseason. He gave the Cards a lot of credit for everything they accomplished. While he has annoyed the crap out of me at times he is a stand up guy in the community and gives credit where credit is due
who said they can’t extend him?? They have the whole offseason to do it
Are the Reds aware they could easily trade Votto for Joey Bats and then go all-in and throw as much money as possible at Albert? Its not a stretch for them to end up with Bautista & Pujols on the same team. That’s what I’d do, 1B is easier to fill and the Jays want their countryman anyway, but with Albert out there they could really shoot the moon and try and get a juggernaut of a lineup.
Why would the Jays trade Bautista for Votto?
I would trade Bautista for Joey in a heartbeat
Can you imagine Bautista playing half his games in that little league cincy ball park? Dear god
Can’t imagine Albert playing there either…
He’s implying that he would have massive home run totals.
Have you seen Bautista’s contract? Talk about bang for your buck…
I get what you are saying, I am just concerned with his second half production.
Well Votto will either be making $20MM a year or be in another uniform before the Jays are ready to compete. That trade makes no sense for the Jays. If they want to pay Votto a massive contract wait till he hits FA and keep the best hitter in the league too.
Keep Bautista, trade a handful of players for Votto (Lind, Snyder and/or Thames, some Triple AAAs), then sign Votto long-term. The savings for Cincy would allow them to afford Albert or Prince. The surplus players they could trade for something else.
Nice low-ball trade offer. Why exactly would Cinci want Lind?
And why would the Jays want to trade “Snyder” at his lowest possible value?
Why would they trade Votto to get fielder or pujos.. This makes absolutely no sense.
nestorpistor is literally a retarded person who shambled next to a PC that a regular person left on. Ignore everything he has to say lest you catch his retard virus as well.
This is a person who thinks that Jose Bautista falls off in the second half of a season. He’s mindless.
Big stretch actually
Wait a minute…how exactly do you propose they afford this? Pujols is sure to get at least $25M per year, and I can’t imagine he signs for less than seven years, so they’ve got to find that money somewhere. Bautista costs more for the next two years ($28M) than Votto ($26.5M), so you’re not saving any money on that deal. Phillips gets a $1M raise, Cueto gets a $2M raise, Bruce gets a $2.25M raise, Chapman gets a $1M raise, Arroyo gets a $500,000 raise, and I have to imagine that Volquez will even get a raise through arbitration. All of those little raises eat up the savings from letting Cordero walk. I don’t get how you see it as a realistic option that they’ll suddenly figure out a way to increase payroll (between $73-80M for the last four years) up into the $105-110M range just to get Pujols.
First off I doubt Albert would play for the Reds given the recent rivalry. 2nd no way the Reds trade Votto and trow a ton of money at a guy (Pujols) who is 31. That makes no sense… why not throw a ton of money at Votto instead?
Not to mention they already have a 1Bman waiting in the wings IF they did trade him
I love when people say this. Like Yadier freaking Alonzo is going to block Albert Pujols.
Ummm Yadier?
you mean yonder? lol
Not only do you not know his first name, but completely failed to comprehend what I said. TBirds said no way the Reds trade Votto & then throw a bunch of cash at AP … my statement was an agreement with him on that and added that if they traded Votto, they wouldn’t go after AP because they already have a ML ready 1B on the roster. As a small market team … it would make no sense for the Reds to toss boat loads of cash at AP
Jair Jurrjens + Matt Diaz for Chris Heisey ?
If not , then Jair Jurrjens + what to get Heisey .
… what?
Braves are looking to get majorly overpaid for Jurrjens
But we also need a LF bat . On the another blog(TC) , we have talked about a trade with Jurrjens to the reds and mostly everyone likes it if we could get Heisey . Just wandering what it would take with Jurrjens to get it done .
If Heisey is in the deal he is not the center piece. Jurrjens will fetch quite a package even if it comes no where near where the Braves are asking for, which right now is the moon. Heisey is a nice player but it would take him and some other significant pieces to land Jurrjens
Heisey and Frazier? Would that land Jurrjens?
I am a Red fan and was surprised someone actually thought a Jurrjens plus another player was fair value for Heisey. Chris is a good kid and ball player, but not as valuable as an above average starting pitcher. The Hammy & Knee injuries the last two seasons are a little bit of a concern, but when Jair is on his A game, he can be lights out
Jair Jurrjens does have value . But some of the other teams that have been mentioned didn’t make any sense .
The Rockies : Seth Smith….another LH bat and a platoon player at best
The Tigers: Delmon Young….Has never played up to his potential , and has been thought of by Tigers fans as a cancer to his ball club
Granted , the rumors have been mainly about Prado . But Wren has kinda threw out both players as trade bait . I know the Braves have had interest in Heisey before and the Reds are in need of pitching .
I was wandering what Jurrjens plus whoever for Heisey would take . In other words , what else other than Heisey would it take for the trade . Maybe the addition of Frazier or Francisco ?
Someone please remind me why they would even consider trading this phenomenal baseball player? I’ve never understood how or why this rumor started.
Money
Every player in baseball could theoretically be traded. That’s not absurd. That’s smart business.
What is absurd is some of the trade proposals that people put together.
Votto is a great player signed to a very team friendly contract in 2012 and a moderately team friendly contract in 2013. After that you will pay up – most likely to the tune of $22-$25m annually.
So while Votto is a tremendous talent his true positive equity (measured in value between his cost and his performance) isn’t that amazing. A guy like Longoria is much, much more valuable.
Agreed … I still can’t believe they got Longoria signed to that deal. He already has 4 full seasons at the ML level and still isn’t making over $5M … and they have him at no more than $11.5M thru ’15 after that
They also inked the contract like a week into his big league career. He could have washed out. You take on risk, sometimes you get rewarded.
Yep … I am still wondering how that Chapman contract is gonna end up
I think Albert will resign with the Cardinals in Feb. He is searching for this 300MM contract that just wont happen. The only team that will come close is the Cardinals. Not because they want to but because they have to.. Say Albert came up with the Reds and did what he did and is now a free agent, St. Louis wouldnt even be in the mix for signing him. The only reason he is going to get a nice contract with the Cardinals is:
1. The fans demand it
2. He will be getting paid for what he did do not what he is going to do.
3. THE FANS DEMAND IT and I think think the front office knows this.
Does Jair Jurrjens/Stephen Marek for Drew Stubbs/Billy Hamilton sound good?
Not at all. Hamilton isn’t going anywhere.
Why would the Braves go after Stubbs? Where would they play him?
Left field if they trade Prado, if they don’t trade Prado he can play right field agianst left-handed pitchers and he can play left field when Prado is at third for Chipper or Uggla. He would also be our backup centerfielder.
I would rather have Heisey .
Cozart and Grandle is who I’d ask for. Alonzo is interesting too.
Cozart is the starting shortstop or at least gets first shot. Grandal is valuable enough I would want him shipped only for top quality who can pitch 200+ innings not 150 plus you guys have McCann. Alonso makes no sense for the Braves with Freeman at first.
But if the Braves are serious about trading Prado then Alonso can play LF.
Grandle would be an amazing trade chip and long-term backup/McCann leaving insurance. Jair would not be cheap.
Go back and watch Alonso in LF last year -SPOILER ALERT- He’s terrible…
Cards and Pujols haven’t met face to face since the end of the season… why would they need to? He knows he wants to stay, he’s just holding out for a bigger number.
Jurrjens for Alonso and Frazier? I doubt Cozart would be part of any package.
I think we would be more interested in Heisey . He’s a RH bat . And I remember there being some interest in him from the Braves .
Funny how the White Sox had money to blow on Adam Dunn last year but now apparently can’t fit Mark Beurhle into their budget.
Votto for Jurrjens straight up. Maybe the Braves throw in a prospect
We already have a cheaper , younger version of Votto at first . His name is Freddie Freeman .
id offer stubbs, and yonder for jurrjens and prado
Wren says to call back when you have a better offer .
My watch is for some blockbuster trades this off-season as a handful teams shuffle the deck. Marlins, Jays, Cincy, Astros all appear ripe for participation. I have been wrong before. But I expect this and without much of a wait.
I’ve never really thought much of Heisey but stubbs is an interesting idea.
The problem with that is that Wren has stated that he is looking for power OFer if he does improve the LF spot . Heisey has shown more power and potential for bigger power numbers than Stubbs . If we were looking for speed , Stubbs would be the guy .
Braves and the Reds match up very well actually but I doubt we make a trade with them because anything that makes this much sense just doesn’t happen. Honestly i would start around cozart.
I’m noticing this too, the Reds have a lot of pieces that could really, really help the Braves.
Stubbs has said he doesn’t want to be a leadoff hitter and he would definitely get a chance to be a run producer in Atlanta, Bourn has LF experience so if he was willing to shift over this would make the most sense logically I imagine.
Still, Yonder is undeniably appealing even as a lefty and less than excellent defender and Cozart seems much more like a sure thing than Pastornicky, who I like.
Heisey, Fransisco, Bray, and Masset would all fit well into the Braves depth chart as well.
I imagine a deal with Cozart would involve Pastornicky being sent in return which isn’t too shabby I must say and Yonder or Stubbs would require one of our “big four” which once again I feel they would be worth, I get a hunch if a deal goes through, it’ll be a biggin.
“Bourn has LF experience so if he was willing to shift over this would make the most sense logically I imagine.”
Keep dreaming. You really think Stubbs would play CF and bump Bourn if he were brought to Atlanta because I don’t? There aren’t many players if any in baseball that the Braves could trade for where they would even think about moving Bourn to LF, especially Drew Stubbs.
Well if the Reds plan on keeping Votto and Heisey is their answer in left field then where does that leave Alonso? The kid is a stud and needs to be on a major league team. How is he in left?
Just wondering, would Jair Jurrjens and a mid-level prospect such as Christian Bethancourt be a fair deal for Votto?