Joey Votto Becomes Free Agent as Reds Decline Option

Joey Votto's tenure with the Cincinnati Reds is coming to an end as the team declined to exercise his $20 million club option and instead paid him a $7 million buyout. The decision was driven by the lack of playing time available for Votto due to the team's rebuilding program and the emergence of young players. Votto, a generational player for the Reds, is now a free agent for the first time in his career and can negotiate with other teams. However, a return to the Reds seems unlikely at the moment. Over his 17 seasons with Cincinnati, Votto has been a six-time All-Star, won the 2010 NL MVP, and is second all-time in franchise history in several categories.