Reds decline Votto's $20M option for 2024
First baseman Joey Votto will hit the free-agent market after the Cincinnati Reds declined his $20-million option for the 2024 season.
The option carried a $7-million buyout.
"For 17 seasons, Joey has been the heart of Reds baseball as a Most Valuable Player, All-Star, and respected clubhouse leader," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said in a statement Saturday.
Votto became one of the greatest players in Reds history during his 17-year tenure with the franchise. The 40-year-old ranks in the top five on the franchise's all-time lists for hits, runs scored, home runs, RBIs, and OPS.
"At this point of the offseason, based on our current roster and projected plans for 2024, as an organization, we cannot commit to the playing time Joey deserves," Krall said. "He forever will be part of the Reds' family, and at the appropriate time, we will thank and honor him as one of the greatest baseball players of this or any generation."
Votto was understanding of the team's decision and appreciative of his years in Cincinnati.
"At 40 years old, a team that's about to be a championship-caliber team didn't pick up the option of a guy who hit .200 in back-to-back seasons," Votto said Saturday, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. "I have been given every last opportunity by everybody involved with the organization. I've been supported and respected steadily throughout my 20-plus years as a Red."
Votto said in September that he planned to play in 2024 and would look for an opportunity to be a full-time player. He maintained a desire to retire on his own terms Saturday.
"Maybe the game will say I'm done. Maybe the league in general will say I'm done, but I want to say I'm done," Votto said. "I'm really proud of how I've managed the last couple of years getting through, working to perform. And so as far as what I'm going to do in the future, it's such an adjustment. It's such a shock. I'm going to need a little bit of time to see how I think and feel."
Despite declining the option, Krall isn't ruling out Votto possibly returning to the club next season.
"I'm not closing the door on anything," Krall said, according to Rosecrans.
The six-time All-Star owns a career .294/.409/.511 slash line with 356 home runs and 1,144 RBIs across 2,056 games.