4 reasons to bring back Votto in 2024

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CLEVELAND -- On Sunday at Great American Ball Park, Reds fans showered love on Joey Votto and the first baseman returned the appreciation in kind for what very well could have been his final home game for the club.

Votto, 40, has a $20 million club option for 2024 and that has a $7 million buyout if it's not picked up. Based on his lowered production the past two seasons, there seems a good chance that the option will not get exercised. However, Reds general manager Nick Krall told MLB.com on Tuesday that nothing had been decided.

“He’s a legacy player here. It’s a tough decision that we’re going to have to sit down, talk about and make," Krall said.

The Reds will have to make their decision shortly after the World Series concludes.

• 12 moments that made Joey Votto's career special

Here's my take: I think the Reds should bring back Votto for one more season. Not only has he earned it, he deserves a shot to show whether he can produce when fully beyond his 2022 left shoulder surgery.

Here's why:

1. It still works financially

The Reds have only one player under contract for 2024. Under his six-year, $53 million deal, starting pitcher Hunter Greene will make $3.3 million next season. That leaves spending room for Votto.

First, the $20 million salary figure is already $5 million less than the $25 million Votto made in each of the past six seasons. So, there's some savings already. If the option is picked up, it's an added $13 million from the buyout figure. That's not a terrible jump.

The other avenue is the club could decline the option and try to re-sign Votto at a lower price. That would work, too.

As for playing time, Votto could still split his efforts at first base, designated hitter and off the bench without taking too much playing time from young players, such as Christian Encarnacion-Strand.

2. Loyalty is a two-way street

Votto, who made his Major League debut with the Reds on Sept. 4, 2007, was signed to a 10-year, $225 million contract extension before the 2012 season.

One of the game's best hitters at the time, and the 2010 National League MVP, he showed his loyalty to the franchise by not simply playing out the previous three-year, $38 million deal and heading to the free-agent market.

After the long-term signing, Votto never asked to be traded to a contender or have his no-trade clause waived during not one, but two rebuilding periods. While outperforming the contract, he went to the playoffs just four times -- 2010, '12, '13 and '20.

3. Leadership counts

The Reds have one of the youngest rosters in MLB and that will likely still be the case in 2024. Leadership will be coveted, and there isn't a better lead-by-example player than Votto.

"Everything that he does to be 40 years old and still be the hardest worker on this team, it obviously describes his career as a whole," catcher Tyler Stephenson said.

Jonathan India, who is also a vocal leader, is another positive for the clubhouse culture. But after the summer trade rumors, and the glut of young infielders, it's not a full lock that India will remain on the club.

Not having Votto and India would really leave a leadership void.

“He definitely is someone I admire," India said of Votto. "He inspires a lot of people. Behind the scenes, he works so hard. I admire that because I work very hard as well. He’s taught me a lot along the way. A lot of people think he’s done. He’s not done. I hope he’s in a Reds uniform next year.”

4. The connection

You don't see many Major League Baseball players connect with a city so well and for so long as Votto and Cincinnati.

In the Reds' recent history, I'd guess the last time a player and city had such a bond was Barry Larkin ahead of his retirement in 2004. Votto is not a Cincinnati native like Larkin but he's firmly rooted in the community, from working with RBI baseball and softball players at the P&G MLB Reds Youth Academy to quietly visiting sick kids at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Following Sunday's game, Votto noted that feeling of connection with Cincinnati during the standing ovations he received from fans.

“I know so many people in the crowd, so many," he said. "I’ve crossed paths with, maybe, a majority of the crowd -- whether through our fanfest, signing autographs, seeing them in the stands, seeing them on the streets. I’m in this community in lots of different ways, so I’m familiar with a lot of people in the stands. There was a moment where I said, ‘I have to go hit.’ And because I have that relationship with so many people that come to the game … It was my way of being playful. I hope they took it that way because I could have soaked that in forever. It was an honor of all honors.”

Votto entered Wednesday batting only .203 but has 14 home runs and a .750 OPS in 63 games. He's had some key moments this season since returning but has still not demonstrated he's fully on the other side of his shoulder recovery.

“I am proud that I didn’t cut any corners," Votto said. "I played every day with the combination of intensity and preparation. This is the very best I can do, given what challenges that have been presented to me at this stage of my career. I’m proud of that. I have not cut a single corner and I’m continuing to give it my very all.”

I don't see Votto wanting one more year for a potential last lap around the league to get rocking chairs and other retirement gifts. That's definitely not his style. He'd only want to keep playing another season, if not more, if he thinks he would be capable of helping the team win and reach the playoffs.

On both counts, I think he can.