The Cincinnati Reds officially declined the $20 million option on the last season of first baseman Joey Votto‘s contract, the team announced Saturday.
Votto will receive a buyout of $7 million and become a free agent.
“For 17 seasons, Joey has been the heart of Reds baseball as a Most Valuable Player, All-Star and respected clubhouse leader,” the team said in their announcement. “His contributions to our team and his extraordinary generosity toward those in need, throughout our region and beyond, cannot be measured.”
The 40-year-old Canadian has spent parts of the last 17 seasons with the Reds, making six All-Star appearances and winning the NL MVP in 2010.
In 2023, Votto slashed .202/.314/.433 with 14 home runs in 65 games. He missed the beginning of the season while working back from left shoulder surgery.
He hasn’t played more than 100 games since 2021, but in that season, the left-handed hitting Votto smashed 36 home runs in 129 games while hitting .266/.375/.563 and finishing 16th in the NL MVP voting.
The Toronto native has expressed his desire to continue playing in MLB and will now join a free-agent class that is weaker on the position player side.
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