Reds - Jays to revisit Votto trade?

[Tom Servo]

Since before the ink was dry on his contract, some folks have been saying we'll need to trade and, more so, throw in a lot of money for the overblown contract. While I would continue to hope for the day when contracts peak and then decline (doubtful it will ever happen), there is no question in my mind that Joey's contract even now is competitive for a top player and will not be as onerous as people think. Likewise, if he were to be traded, at this point and time, it would require elite players/prospects and not one dime (U.S. or Canadian) would go with it. This contract is well within top major league contracts (and keeps falling down the list as the years progress) that it's absurd to suggest we should pay anything on it.

Indeed. Votto makes $22,000,000 in 2017. The Cardinals owe Mike Leake, Jonathan Broxton, and Brayan Pena a combined $21,250,000 next year. That is what free agency buys you. Would anyone rather have the latter over the former?