Will Votto Win the $30 Million Lotto?

Spring Training has yet to begin for the 2012 season, yet eyes are already looking ahead to the end of the 2013 season, when Reds pillar Joey Votto could become the hot property in the free agent market.

It is the nature of the business/game for salaries to increase with each new star's availability on the open market .While Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton is the next big name to enter free agency after this season, a recent relapse in his fight to remain sober could affect a potential long term investment for top money, making Votto the more attractive candidate.

Votto too has had his setbacks, but under different circumstances. In 2009, he suffered from depression due to the sudden death of his father the year before. Though he missed 31 games, he still batted .322 with 25 home runs. The following season, Votto became the third Canadian to win the MVP in a triumphant return from the anxiety issues that had impeded him from reaching his full potential.

Joey Votto is the undisputed cornerstone of the Reds franchise, a gamer that has publicly stated his contempt for the division rival Chicago Cubs (allegedly in jest) and a well regarded defensive first baseman in addition to his hitting prowess. By the time he reaches free agency, he'll be 30, two years younger than Cardinals icon Albert Pujols was when the Anaheim Angels gave him 240 million dollars over 10 years to defect to the American League.

The obvious answer is for the Reds to attempt to lock down Votto with a long term deal. Unfortunately, as with Milwaukee and Prince Fielder, the team is held back by fiscal constraints that the bigger fish in the game do not contend with. Since that imbalance will not change anytime soon, the Reds may find themselves forced to either deal Votto by the trading deadline in 2013 or again, as with Milwaukee and Fielder, play to win and receive a draft pick in return for Votto's departure.

All this conspires to make Joey Votto the subject of conjecture and speculation over the next couple of seasons as to what uniform he'll be wearing in 2014.

Though by all reports, Votto isn't consumed with notions of high salary demands, he will more than likely command a high salary. While not having the pedigree of Albert Pujols or the dominating power of Prince Fielder, Votto has strung together four solid seasons, including his MVP year in 2010. Two more Vottoesque seasons, combined with the possibility a new Los Angeles Dodgers owner might be looking to make a splash, could put him in optimum position to cross the magical 30 million/yr threshold, where only two players (Alex Rodriguez in 2012 and Pujols in 2021) are scheduled to reach.

Despite Cincinnati not being one of the bigger media epicenters in baseball, the attention on the situation will only escalate as the next two seasons go on.

Can Joey Votto continue to make a significant contribution to the Reds, while at the same time deal with the never ending questions about his future in the game?

Let the drama begin.