"Joey Votto and Reds general manager Walt Jocketty both played down the significance of Votto's new contract being for three years.

By signing for three years, Votto covered his arbitration years and left open the possibility of leaving via free agency after the 2013 season. Votto says that is not his intention.

"I can't imagine playing anywhere else," he said. "I enjoy myself. I can't imagine being with a better team. The Yankees or Red Sox – that's a lot to deal with. I'm young in my career. I'm still learning. I don't want to go anywhere else."

"Three years was just what we came to. I'm very happy. I don't have to fool with arbitration. It's cost certainty."

Jocketty said there's no reason that more years can't be added later.

"The No. 1 thing for us was to avoid arbitration," Jocketty said. "This deal does that. We'll revisit adding years before the end of the contract. We were more concerned with the arbitration years. It's hard to predict where salaries will be."

Votto, 27, was in a unique position for a first-time arbitration eligible player. He's the reigning National League MVP. He hit .324 with 37 home runs and 113 RBI. He led the NL in slugging percentage (.600) and on-base percentage (.424).

The sides discussed longer deals.

"But the way the numbers were going we thought this was the best way to go," Jocketty said.

Votto left the negotiations up to his agent, Dan Lozano.

"They may have talked longer," Votto said. "I wasn't privy to that. One, two or three would have been fine with me. I wanted three, and I think the team wanted three.""