Toronto-born Major Leaguer Joey Votto is going to get paid big time. The Cincinnati Reds all-star and reigning National League Most Valuable Player turned in a career-making year in 2010, powering his squad to its first playoff appearance in 15 years while sitting near the top of the majors in nearly every offensive category. According to the Associated Press, “The first baseman earned a raise, and boy, did he get one.” $38 million over three years? Indeed he did.
Not too shabby considering the 27-year-old is just entering his third season in the big leagues and made a pittance of $525,000 despite his multimillion-dollar stats: he finished second in the NL in batting average (.324), third in homers (37) and RBIs (113), first in slugging percentage (.600) and led all of baseball in on-base percentage (.424).
He also became the third Canadian baseball player in history to take home MVP honours, following in the footsteps of B.C.-born sluggers Larry Walker (1997) and Justin Morneau (2006). The deal buys him out of his arbitration years and gives the reigning NL Central champs some short-term budget security.
Here’s to at least another three years of waiting for Toronto’s number-one baseball son to come home.
• Votto, Reds agree on a three-year deal [Boston Globe] • Toronto’s Joey Votto signs $38M deal with Cincinnati [Toronto Star] • Votto set to cash in, say reports [Montreal Gazette]
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