What will Votto be worth?

[Kingdom]

Great question posed as I was reading rumor reports on insider. As this brief article states, Votto is a much better defender and in much better shape, so he'll age better than Fielder. So he should easily be worth more than Fielder, right?

A few years ago, Cy Young Award winners Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux came to the conclusion that chicks did the longball. So do owners in desperate search of a World Series title, as the Tigers' Mike Ilitch demonstrated with his willingness to spend $214 million to Prince Fielder.

Who will be the next slugger to cash in after Albert Pujols ($240 million) and Fielder?
Some officials began speculating about how this will impact the asking price of Cincinnati's Joey Votto, writes ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney in Wednesday's column. "He's a much better defender than Fielder, he'll age better, so what's he going to get -- $250 million? $300 million?" asked one general manager.
Votto will make $9.5 million this season and $17 million in 2013 before reaching free agency.

[Prez WilCo]

Makes me very nervous

[zodious]

He'll make more than Cincinnati can pay him that's for sure. He'll get an 8 year deal (till age 37 I believe) worth $216 mil ($27 mil/per).

That's assuming he keeps his hitting pace. Obviously there have been great players who never played at that level again. With his Vertigo and other health problems it may keep him down to $22-23 mil per.

The other issue is, who's going to pay it? My guess is he winds up being a cub. And with the way that stadium is built I can see him hitting 50 HRs in a season, with 60% going opposite field. And 20% hitting Wayland Ave.

[love_that_reefer]

If Votto continues he pace, he will definitely make more than Fielder and the Dodgers would be a perfect fit. Zodius brought up a good point that not many teams will be able to afford him. The Yankees might be a fit unless they fix their DH from now til then but other than that, most teams that could afford him are set at 1B. Possibly Washington, Toronto or Baltimore?

[Porter]

Seattle's 1B is Justin Smoak. The jury is out on him.

[Foster]

If he ends up a Jay, pure maple syrup explosion.

My value is about $220 million.

[Kingdom]

I would think the market would be better because he's not a liability defensively but well.. Who knows. We never expected Detroit to do what they just did. Toronto would be amazing beyond the fact that he's Canadian. If Colorado hadn't gone crazy last few years, he'd be a crazy heir to Helton. He's going to be a fun one.

I love offseason drama. Now and future.

[zodious]

If he ends up a Jay, pure maple syrup explosion.My value is about $220 million.

Over how many years? The jays would get a hometown discount I would bet.

[missionhockey21]

To answer the thread's question: countless tears from me when he leaves.

[zodious]

To answer the thread's question: countless tears from me when he leaves.

I've said from the beginning of last year, he's shown no interest in staying a Red. I would be the first one to yell in excitement if he stays, nobody spends their whole career in a small market club anymore if they're worth anything. You'll know the reds intentions if they sign Phillips to a long term (4 or more years) deal (however they do like Billy Hamilton). If they do there is no money left for Votto. If Brandon walks that may anger Votto and he'll want to leave anyway. I just don't see this working out well for the reds. They need a world series this year or it was a failure. They traded their "next" behind Votto. So it's now or never for this team. Expect a fire sale a-la Houston in 2 years

[Foster]

Over how many years? The jays would get a hometown discount I would bet.

Similar to your contract, take him to the deep 30's. Remember this is a team (Jays) that were going to pay Vernon Wells 25 million dollars for the next three years. Granted that was under J.P's reign of terror.

The way I see it, he's gonna give the Reds a shot at signing him, and the Reds are going to try hard to do it. You don't trade Alonso if you weren't planning to invest in Votto for a long time.

[Slyder]

If Votto continues he pace, he will definitely make more than Fielder and the Dodgers would be a perfect fit. Zodius brought up a good point that not many teams will be able to afford him. The Yankees might be a fit unless they fix their DH from now til then but other than that, most teams that could afford him are set at 1B. Possibly Washington, Toronto or Baltimore?

My prediction would be quite a bidding war in two years between 6 clubs.
Seattle (they've spent before, they can again)
Chicago Cubs
LA
Toronto (Hometown boy, coming home)
Florida (Lost out on Pujols could always gear up again especially if the money does start to roll like they think)
Chicago White Sox (Konerko can't play forever, Dunn got real old real fast last year)

[Trendy Bastard]

I remember Votto saying something along the lines of hating the Cubs.

[Slyder]

I remember Votto saying something along the lines of hating the Cubs.

If you said Brandon Phillips and the Cards... I think Votto was mostly joking.

[realmofotalk]

Similar to your contract, take him to the deep 30's. Remember this is a team (Jays) that were going to pay Vernon Wells 25 million dollars for the next three years. Granted that was under J.P's reign of terror.

Do Jays fans really believe Anthopoulos didn't have a hand in giving out that contract? He WAS Ricciardi's top lieutenant, after all.