Joey Votto has shown no desire to leave Cincinnati, but would he accept a deal to the right team?
As the Cincinnati Reds continue their rebuild, franchise player Joey Votto has shown no desire to be traded. The All-Star first baseman has a full no-trade clause built into his ten-year, $225-million contract. Had he really wanted to be moved out of Cincy, Votto could have had his way, but he seems to love playing for the Reds.
The Reds are close to done with their rebuilding process, and have no more valuable assets to flip with the exception of Votto. He is in the midst of a career year and leads the NL with 26 home runs as the All-Star Game approaches. This is Votto’s fifth All-Star nod, and he is putting up his typical .300/.400/.600 line and is on track for his fourth season with an OPS over 1.000.
Votto has become a bargain at $22.5 million per season, even at the age of 33. After batting .255 in 2014 and struggling with injuries, he has hit .319/.442/.564 with 86 doubles and 83 home runs since. It’s up to Votto to ask for a trade or at least let the Reds know he would be open to one at this point. He has not shown any interest up to this point, so that seems very unlikely, but stranger things have happened. If Votto changes his mind, these five teams could make sense.
5. Boston Red Sox
Production at first base has eluded the Red Sox for the better part of four seasons. They got a bump at the position last year with Hanley Ramirez moving back into the infield and getting himself more engaged in the action. Ramirez has been serving as the team’s DH this year, and his power numbers have fallen off. Mitch Moreland has done enough this year at first base, but is batting .254/.346/.437 over his past 56 games.
The Red Sox have become dependent on Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Andrew Benintendi for almost all of their offensive production this season. The front office’s most likely course of action at the trade deadline is to acquire a third baseman, but first base could also become an option if Dave Dombrowski looks to make a blockbuster trade and find his answer at the position for the next five years.