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Votto says he won’t waive no-trade clause
- Updated: December 3, 2016
CINCINNATI — Joey Votto certainly gets it. As long as the Reds first baseman keeps producing while signed to a monster contract for a small-market club, his name will come up in trade rumors and trade suggestions each offseason.
But Votto’s feelings, and the club’s, don’t follow the narrative. He has no interest in waiving the full no-trade clause in his contract and going to another team.
“I do understand why there is a conversation. It’s interesting,” Votto said as the team gathered Friday night for Redsfest. “After a while, you get used to it. You don’t pay much attention to it because if they’re going to [report rumors] five years in a row, then at some point there’s not much meaning to it.”
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Votto, 33, has seven guaranteed years and $179 million left on the 10-year extension he signed in 2012. There is a $20 million team option for the 2024 season.
“I’m looking forward to the team getting better,” Votto said. “I’m looking forward to being a part of it. I know I have to do everything I can to be a better all-around player so I can keep up with the rest of the guys on the team. Watching both the Indians and the Cubs compete in the World Series this year, you saw almost every different aspect of what makes winning baseball happen.
“I felt like there are parts of my game, specifically, that I was coming up a bit short on. I’m looking forward to playing with 25 guys that can bring a championship back to Cincinnati. The three playoff experiences that I’ve had were short-lived and disappointing. I’d like …
