"Everyone got something. Each party came away happy, which is a textbook definition of a good negotiation.

The Reds got "cost certainty," a boring accounting term for knowing how deeply Joey Votto will live in their wallet the next three years.

Votto got psyche certainty. He can play baseball with peace of mind. He won't worry so much about the numbers he puts up and the incessant questions he would get.

Neither side wanted to go to an arbitration hearing, and that was avoided forever.

Votto's a great hitter, a conscientious employee and absolutely dedicated to his craft. He's also a very sensitive, hyper-thoughtful human, who feels deeply. Teams don't always consider a player's psyche when deciding whether to go to arbitration.

The Reds absolutely considered it with Votto.

Nobody wanted to know how he might emerge from a contentious arbitration spat. Now, nobody ever will.

The three-year, $38 million deal he signed is heavily weighted toward the last year.

He will make about $8 million this year and about $17 million in Year Three. If he keeps doing what he has done the last two years, Votto will be a bargain.

You have to wonder why Votto couldn't take a few minutes Monday and announce his pleasure at a press gathering. Not so much for the heathen media, but for the ballclub that just committed a whole lot of money to his wallet.

A little feelgood would have been appreciated. A little, you know, gratitude. As it was, Votto flew in Sunday, took his physical at Beacon Orthopedic late Monday morning and never stopped by Great American Ball Park. He did a brief teleconference from the airport at about 4 p.m., on his way out of town.

Hey, great, dude. Nice seeing you, don't trip on that cash pile. Thanks for stopping by.

Thoughts of signing Votto beyond the three years were strictly dream-induced. To buy four, five or six years of the reigning NL MVP would have required too high a percentage of the total payroll. That's a fact of life in Small Market Land."