ESPN already pushing for us to lose Votto.

[The Operator]

I don't have access to ESPN Insider, but the headline alone made me sick. As soon as a Reds player establishes himself on the national scene, ESPN is falling over themselves to figure out somewhere else for him to play. It makes me sick.

Here's the link:
Votto's future in Cincy in doubt.

I know he's arb. eligible and may be hard to keep long term, but I have heard absolutely nothing yet that has made me think we're already at risk of losing him. If you ask me, this is just ESPN wanting us to be a good little farm team and fork over our best player.

[Eric_the_Red]

Hope this is okay for me to post:

It's pretty safe to assume that when Joey Votto and his agent are think arbi's this summer, it'll mean more than a Big Montana. The possible NL MVP pulled down $550K this season, which is less than Albert Pujols makes every two weeks. He's arbitration-eligible this offseason, and should expect to jump to somewhere closer to the $6-8 million range. But his long-term prospects in Cincy are an interesting case.

Asked last week about the topic, and whether he'd be interested in a long-term pact with Cincy, Votto said "I don't know."

For now, the wide expectation is Cincy will pay him arbi dollars in 2011, with an eye toward a longer pact.

Not sure why this is "Insider" information.

[Ghosts of 1990]

Well, I've got something that says the opposite. Votto's girlfriend on twitter today talked about them buying a home in Cincy today; finalizing things today on the house.

[Brutus]

I don't have access to ESPN Insider, but the headline alone made me sick. As soon as a Reds player establishes himself on the national scene, ESPN is falling over themselves to figure out somewhere else for him to play. It makes me sick.

Here's the link:
Votto's future in Cincy in doubt.

I know he's arb. eligible and may be hard to keep long term, but I have heard absolutely nothing yet that has made me think we're already at risk of losing him. If you ask me, this is just ESPN wanting us to be a good little farm team and fork over our best player.

It's probably more of a description on the state of baseball's finances than anything against the Reds. After all, it's natural to expect a player of Votto's stature to be tough to keep around long-term.

[sivman17]

Well, I've got something that says the opposite. Votto's girlfriend on twitter today talked about them buying a home in Cincy today; finalizing things today on the house.

Is this for real?

[Eric_the_Red]

Well, I've got something that says the opposite. Votto's girlfriend on twitter today talked about them buying a home in Cincy today; finalizing things today on the house.

Why didn't Heather just post that here?

[Ghosts of 1990]

I hope this house today is the one!! Tired of hunting...

yes, she follows me on twitter and i follow her. above was her post today.

[Brutus]

yes, she follows me on twitter and i follow her. above was her post today.

Now, I gotta ask the question if you don't mind...why are you following Joey Votto's wife on Twitter?

[The Operator]

Is that Votto's girlfriend or are they married?

Good thing Marge is no longer owner of The Reds or Joey would be Davey Johnson'd if her and Joey aren't married yet.

[savafan]

I have a direct source inside the Reds front office at the new job. I don't foresee us losing Votto...

[Matt700wlw]

I have a direct source inside the Reds front office at the new job. I don't foresee us losing Votto...

I need a job....

[savafan]

I need a job....

LOL, we share a floor with the Cumulus stations.

[Brutus]

I have a direct source inside the Reds front office at the new job. I don't foresee us losing Votto...

Short of signing a hometown discount with the Blue Jays, by Votto's own admission he doesn't seem to be a big market kind of guy. That's one of the reasons I've never really been concerned with his signability.

So I've kind of thought Cincinnati could keep him around a while, unless he decided to go play for Toronto.

[savafan]

Short of signing a hometown discount with the Blue Jays, by Votto's own admission he doesn't seem to be a big market kind of guy. That's one of the reasons I've never really been concerned with his signability.

So I've kind of thought Cincinnati could keep him around a while, unless he decided to go play for Toronto.

You're pretty much 100% dead on.

[Brutus]

You're pretty much 100% dead on.

Thanks! Excuse me while I take a moment to relish that.