Zach Buchanan

zbuchanan@enquirer.com

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto arrived in camp Tuesday prepared to begin his 10th season with the team. He fully intends to play at least seven more after that.

Votto has eight years left on the 10-year, $225 million deal he signed in 2012, a pact that gives him a full no-trade clause. The Reds have stripped the big-league team of most of the established pieces possible – and nearly traded Jay Bruce to the Blue Jays in a deal that fell apart Monday night – but Votto wants to stay put instead of jumping to a front-runner by allowing a trade.

“I'm not going to buy high – that's silly,” Votto said. “I'm a buy-low guy. Why would I zag when everyone is zagging? You've got to zig when everyone is zagging. I think the future of the franchise is headed in the right direction.”

Though the Reds’ recent sell-off moves suggest a more active search for the bottom, Votto feels the team has already begun its climb back to winning. Saying goodbye to longtime teammates like Todd Frazier and Aroldis Chapman was difficult, but not as difficult as weathering the disappointing 2015 season.

What's up with Jay Bruce trade saga?

Brandon Phillips mum on vetoed offseason trades

That campaign “better damn well be the bottom,” Votto said, but the road back to respectability is one he’s willing to trek along with the organization as long as it continues its upward trajectory.

“We rode out some (stuff) last year, if I can ride that out and have a good time and be optimistic, I can handle just about anything,” Votto said. “As long as we continue to head in the right direction, I'm very excited and proud to be a Red. I'm motivated by being a part of the future.”

That future is fresh-faced and populates the Reds’ clubhouse at their spring training complex, and Votto feels a responsibility to make Cincinnati’s host of young, unestablished players feel welcome and ease their transition to big leagues.

He’s also thankful to be entering camp at full health. Last year Votto began spring training rehabbing from a quad injury.

“I did a lot of walking and a lot of sleeping (in the offseason),” Votto said. “The Cincinnati fan base can be excited about the future of my performance, I'm going to be well-rested and practiced walking a lot.”