Joey Votto isn't ready to call it a career just yet.
The longtime Cincinnati Reds first baseman made it clear he would like to return for an 18th season and wants to remain with the team.
“I want to play again, at least one more year,” Votto said during an appearance Friday on The Dan Patrick Show. “The last couple years were crummy. I wasn’t healthy for two years. I’d like to play well. It’s not the taste I want to leave in my mouth.”
Votto has a $20 million club option for next season, which also includes a $7 million buyout. The Reds are now faced with a chance to save $13 million after Votto was forced to miss 10 months following shoulder and biceps surgery.
It led to the Toronto native having the worst production in his career where he had 14 home runs and 38 RBIs while hitting .202/.314/.433 in 65 games.
When asked about the possibility of the Reds not picking up his option for next season, Votto said it would not change his desire to continue playing.
“Then I’ll have a new experience,” he said when asked about the possibility of testing free agency. “I’ll be a free agent for the first time in my professional baseball career. I don’t know how excited I am about that.”
Votto has a career .294 average with 2,135 hits, 356 homers and 1,144 RBIs in 2,056 games since making his debut with Cincinnati in 2007.
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