What does Jay Bruce's contract extension mean for Joey Votto?

As the new owner of a six-year, $51 million "Justin Upton" contract special, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce became a very rich man on Thursday night. The deal, first reported by ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, buys out his arbitration years and is a clear sign that the Reds expect that Bruce will continue the jump he made in 2010. The 23-year-old right fielder hit .281/.353/.493 with 25 homers and 70 RBIs over 148 games last season. 

Of course, this might be bigger and better news if Bruce was the franchise's de facto "face." But that title belongs to first baseman and reigning NL MVP Joey Votto.

And, like it or not, that means everyone else's deal will be viewed through the prism of whether or not Votto plans to play in Cincinnati long-term.

Votto is under team control through 2013 and is arb-eligible for the first time this offseason. He'll likely be set for huge raises for each of the next three years and the Reds are interested in at least buying out those campaigns if not more.

But with a quickly escalating reputation as one of the game's best hitters, Votto is in no rush to commit as quickly — or for as long — as Bruce did. And after the big cash grabs of this year's winter meeting, nor should he be. He's a better player and he's closer to bigger bucks than Bruce was. If he does anything, he'll sign a short-term extension for the rest of his arbitration years — Crasnick thinks it's likely — but that's about it. 

Here's what Votto told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon at Redsfest earlier this month:

"I don't know as far as beyond three years. I think it's a real unfair question to ask. This is not me saying I don't want to be here. But last year was a difficult year for me. This year was a better year for me. It's really hard for me to think three years ahead, five years ahead, seven years ahead or 10 years ahead. When [Troy] Tulowitzki signed that 10-year contract [with the Rockies], I was blown away. I can't imagine seeing myself 10 years from now saying I want to be here. It's an overwhelming thing to ask a young person like myself and say 'here's a lot of money. Be happy with this over 10 years, deal with it.'"

Translation: I don't want the pressure of a big contract right now. Let me produce over the next few years without it and then I'll negotiate for what I've earned once arbitration is over.

That's not good news for Reds fans hoping for a hometown discount, but it's an incredibly smart position for Votto to take. He can't undervalue himself in 2010, not with Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder set to super boost the market for upper-echelon first basemen next offseason.

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