Joey Votto Signs Massive Contract Extension with Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds slugger Joey Votto just became a very rich man. If the below reported details of his contract are true, Votto joined Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez as the only players in MLB history to ink a contract worth more than $200 million. 

USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweeted out the news.

"

Breaking: Joey Votto gets 10-year, $225 milion extension, even eclipsing Prince Fielder, tying him to #Reds through 2013. More in USA TODAY

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 2, 2012"

The 2013 in that tweet must have been a typo. Nightengale correctly stated that it would tie him to the club until 2023 in his print version of the report. 

Votto will be 38 in 2023. He has played five major league seasons. In each of his last four seasons he has played in at least 131 games. 

Votto is a career .313 hitter. He is averaging 30 home runs over his last three seasons. He won the National League MVP award in 2010 after hitting a career high .324 with 113 RBI and a slugging percentage of .600. 

Votto's average, RBI and slugging numbers had a slight drop off last season, but he set a new career mark by belting 40 doubles to go along with 29 home runs. 

Nightengale also reported that he heard from a source that the deal contains a no-trade clause.