Joey Votto Wanted To Become Highest Paid Canadian Baseball Player
The Cincinnati Reds made a big splash right before the season started when the signed first baseman Joey Votto to a 10-year, $225 million contract extension. Votto told Bob Elliot of the Toronto Sun that he wanted to become the highest paid Canadian baseball player and that is what the Reds did.
Votto’s deal surpassed Larry Walker’s deal with the Colorado Rockies when Walker signed a six-year, $70 million extension at the turn of the century.
The Reds were quick to make the 2010 National League MVP the offer. Especially since there was talk to Votto possibly leaving the Reds in the future to head to Toronto to play for the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays have not seen a power hitting first baseman since the days of Carlos Delgado.
You can definitely say that Votto has earned this contract extension. Votto started playing full time with the Reds in 2008 and hit 24 home runs and drove in 84 RBI. By 2010, Votto was the MVP after hitting 37 homers and driving in 113 RBI while batting .324/.424/.600. Last year, Votto cooled down from his MVP performance. He hit 29 homers and drove in 103 RBI which were still great numbers but not enough to overthrow Ryan Braun for National League MVP.
The only problem you see with Votto, like you see with any other slugger, is that he strikes out a lot. He struck out 129 times last season which was up from 2010 when he struck out 125 times.
Votto is aiming for another big year, hopefully the big contract does not backfire on the Reds.
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