April 4, 2012
A then 28-year old Joey Votto agreed to a $251.5 million, 12-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds, the longest guaranteed contract in MLB history.
The agreement added $225 million over 10 years to his existing contract.
The deal topped Ken Griffey Jr's $116.5 million, nine-year deal from 2000 as the largest in franchise history.
At the time, the deal was the fourth largest in MLB history (per year):
Alex Rodriguez, 10-year, $277M, Yankees, Albert Pujols, 10 years, $240M, Angels, Prince Fielder, 9 years, $213M, Tigers.
Here are Votto's stats over his 12 seasons after signing the extension:
1,600 games, .289 BA, .412 OBP, .498 SLG, .910 OPS, 142 OPS+ (42% better than league), 266 HR, 846 RBI, 903 R, 346 2B, 1140 BB, 1292 K. WAR 48.5.
Received MVP votes/finish 5X: 2012 (14th), 2013 (6th), 2015 (3rd), 2016 (7th), 2017 (2nd), 2021 (16th)
All-Star: 4X (2012-13-17-18)
Reds record w/ Votto after the extension 863-979 (.468)......Average record per season 76-86.
Winning seasons: 5 of 12 seasons
Playoff appearances: 2012, 2013, 2020. Playoff series wins: 0.
What an organizational failure.
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"Is it risky?" asked owner Bob Castellini at the news conference. "No doubt. That's the environment we live in especially as a small market. We feel Joe will be a cornerstone."
"What we're doing will not be to the financial detriment to the makeup of our team in the future," Castellini said.
Per C. Trent Rosecrans, CBS Sports that day:
Small-market teams don’t commit $225 million on top of the $30 million already owed a player for this season and next. No, anyone willing to throw around a commitment through 2023 for that kind of money is either not worried about the bottom line or so far ahead in their investment that they can afford it.
From now on, any cries of poverty or budget ceilings or any other excuses for not signing or retaining players from the banks of the Ohio River should be ignored. The Reds are in it to win, and money shouldn’t be an object.
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