Reds first baseman just wrapped up the final guaranteed year of his contract, and while the Reds hold a $13MM decision on a $20MM team option for the veterans services next season, they seem all but certain to simply pay the $7MM buyout on the option. The end of his contract in Cincinnati has come with plenty of speculation regarding whether or not Votto, who turned 40 last month, would retire after seventeen seasons in the big leagues. Votto put that speculation to rest today on , as the shows made note of this morning. As a guest on the radio show this morning, Votto announced that he wants to play at least one more season before adding that while he wants to play for the Reds, he would at least consider playing for another club if the team decides they want to move on. From a Milwaukee Brewers Jersey pure production standpoint, Votto appears to be something of a borderline candidate for a big league role headed into 2024. His 2023 season saw him begin the season on the injured list as he struggled to get ready for the season following shoulder surgery he underwent in the summer of 2022, but once he reached the field he was a roughly league average bat for the Reds, slashing .202/.314/.433 (98 wRC+) with 14 home runs in just 242 trips to the plate. Of course, theres more at play here than simply raw on-the-field production. Votto is one of the premiere talents of his generation, a six-time All Star who won the NL MVP award in 2010 and finished in the top-10 of MVP voting five additional times. Hes led the National League in on-base percentage seven times in his career, stands as the leagues active leader in walks and hits (following the retirement of ) while placing in the top five among active players in doubles, home runs, and RBI. Whats more, hes spent his entire profe sional career in a Reds uniform ever since being drafted by the club in the second round of the 2002 draft. Given Vottos Hall of Fame-caliber resume and two-decade long history in the Reds organization, its hard to imagine him playing for any other club. That being said, the reality of the situation may not be quite so cut-and-dry. After all, the Reds are at the beginning of what could be a long competitive window and boast a bevy of exciting young position players and prospects including , , , , and . Those five players alone figure to fill the clubs infield mix and DH spot, to say nothing of the presence of and other up-and-coming youngsters like . Its hard to imagine Votto having a place in the clubs everyday lineup in 2024, though its unclear if he would be open to a bench role in the organization. That said, it seems unlikely that Votto would be able to find a starting role on a contender in the event he moves on from the Reds. While its certainly feasible he could find a part-time role with a club in need of lefty bats like his hometown Blue Jays, its fair to a sume based on Vottos comments that such an arrangement would only be on the table if the Reds are unwilling to offer him a role on the team in any capacity, given his stated preference to play for Cincinnati next year. Jason Alexander Jersey