Joey Votto Will Remain a Red Despite Team Listening to Offers: MLB Trade Rumors

The Cincinnati Reds will entertain offers for Joey Votto this offseason, NBC Sports HardBallTalk reported Saturday.

Let the trade talk rumors begin.

This season, the 2010 National League MVP didn't quite match his performances from a ago, but he was still a major force in the Reds lineup.

Votto finished 2011 batting .309 with 29 home runs and 103 RBI.

Before the latest trade deadline, there were many rumors that Votto was close to being on his way out of Cincinnati.

At the time, it appeared that the potential landing spot was in South Florida with the Marlins. As such, one would have to expect Florida to be the early favorites in receiving Votto.

It is also speculated that the Toronto Blue Jays could come forward with an offer.

Despite Votto's skill set, it just doesn't seem like the first baseman is drawing very much interest around the league; if there was, it's hard to believe that a trade didn't go down during the regular season.

Maybe some situations have changed between now and then, the most obvious being Ryan Howard's devastating Achilles' injury potentially ruling him out for a significant portion of the Phillies' 2012 season.

Could there be some interest in Philadelphia?

Who knows, right now it's hard to fish for possible landing spots.

What's important to remember is that the Reds said they are willing to listen to offers, though that doesn't necessarily mean they are going to shop him.

Votto is set to earn $9.5 million next season. For his skill level, that's a steal and a major reason for Cincinnati to keep him around.

The jump to $17 million in 2013 is a hefty one however, and that's when a possible trade would be a little more likely.