The MLB.com headline is “Reds reward MVP Votto with three-year deal.” Apparently the folks at MLB forgot that, though Votto sometimes plays like a seasoned veteran, due to the free agency rules, Votto was going to be in Cincinnati for the next three years regardless.

The only question left was how much he was going to make for those years, and that question has been answered:

The Reds on Sunday agreed to terms on a three-year, $38 million contract with first baseman and National League Most Valuable Player Joey Votto, baseball sources told MLB.com.

There is surely more analysis to come, such as whether the Reds or Votto got a bargain (the Red Hot Household is split on the issue) and whether the length of the deal is adequate (everyone but Votto probably would have liked another year).

Every year, Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci lists 10 pitchers that he feels are most likely to be injured because of overuse the season before. This year, the Cincinnati Reds’ Travis Wood made the list.

Here’s how Verducci describes it.

Now it’s time to identify the red-flagged pitchers of 2011 — the 25-and-younger pitchers whose workload last year jumped by more than 30 innings. (All innings are considered: minors, Arizona Fall League, majors and postseason. Pitchers such as Jaime Garcia of St. Louis, who made a big jump from 2009 but were close to a total from previous pro seasons, were not included.)

And it’s true. In 2009, Wood pitched a total of 167 2/3 innings. Just last season, he threw 100 innings in the minors, 102 2/3 in the majors (plus 3 1/3 in the playoffs) for a total of 206, an increase of 38 1/3.

Of course, with predictions like this, the obvious question is, “How accurate has this Verducci guy been in the past?” The answer is a decided so-so.

Last year I red-flagged 10 such pitchers, and four of them were hurt or regressed … and two had so-so results … [b]ut four others had breakout years.

Verducci credits teams wising up to how increased workload can injure pitchers and becoming more calculated in their risk-taking. With the amount of attention pitchers have gotten over the last decade, I could believe it. Still, according to the 2010 results, it sounds like Wood has a 20% chance of being the same and a 40% chance of being even better. I like those odds.

The folks over at Red Reporter had the chance to interview Sean Casey this week, and instead of asking him about any future singing plans, they took the time to talk about him leaving baseball, joining the MLB Network, and his future plans.

It’s a good little read, and you should give it a look, if for no other reason than to recall what you liked so much about Casey, one of the few bright spots in the aughts.

Casey did drop this little surprise.

Actually I just signed on to do 15 games for the Reds this year as a color guy. I’ll get a chance to get in the booth and see how that goes. I think I’ll be doing the games from April 5 through April 7, and later some games in Pittsburgh and in Cincinnati. We’re still figuring that out.

So be sure to tune in in early April for the Mayor’s debut as a Reds’ broadcaster. It’ll be great to hear his voice and personality again. And you know it’ll have to better than the parade of announcers that have shuffled through the booth the last couple years.

Yesterday’s announcement of the signing of Edgar Renteria overshadowed the other free-agent signing by the Cincinnati Reds: Fred Lewis.

A busy January continued for the Reds on Monday as they checked another item off the wish list by signing outfielder Fred Lewis to a one-year contract worth $900,000.

Well, busy if you call doing three things in a month busy. Many of us have an occasional day when we do three things.

The signing of Lewis does fulfill two of the needs general manager Walt Jocketty had identified as goals: a left-handed hitting outfielder and someone who could lead off.

“We felt we had more upside with Lewis, both with his age and in having control over him for a longer period of time,” Jocketty said. “We liked his all-around game. We think he’ll fit in well with our club. He feels he’s capable of stealing more bases than he did. I’m anxious to see what he can do. He’ll be a fun guy to watch.”

Considering the other candidate was Scott Podsednik, Jocketty made an excellent choice here. Podsednik will be 35 for this next season, and I have a bad feeling about him. Lewis, at 30 for 2011, has more promise. He also has a bit more pop in his bat, which is something you definitely want from a bench guy.

This is probably the extent of the free agent signings by the Reds. Two rather small moves that help round out the club and patch some weaknesses, and all done without destroying the starting lineup. It sure is nice to have a competent general manager.

It’s finally official! The Cincinnati Reds finally got around to announcing the signing of Edgar Renteria.

Sure, it was all over the interwebs 4 days ago, but I guess the Reds had to make sure Renteria could pass a physical. I’d hate to have another Gary Majewski.

The terms of the deal are a little less than initially reported. Renteria could still make $3 million by reaching a certain number of plate appearances, but the base salary is $2.1 million.

As for my fear that Paul Janish was having the shortstop rug pulled out from under his feet, apparently, that was unfounded, despite Dusty Baker’s history as a manager. Walt Jocketty made that quite clear.

“Edgar addresses the need for veteran leadership,” Jocketty said. “He’s a veteran middle infielder that can play shortstop and help Paul Janish. It’s a good move. He still has a lot left in him.”

Since Renteria agreed to terms on a deal with the Reds on Thursday, there had been a lot of speculation about the status of Janish at shortstop. When the club gets to camp, he will still be the regular shortstop.

“I called Janish on Saturday to make sure he knew that,” Jocketty said.

Excellent. I agree with what RHM said. Renteria’s athletic ability will be quite useful as a backup around the infield. Plus, it gives more time for the prospects in the minors to get ready for next year.

And it’s always nice when a player wants to go to, as Renteria’s agent said, “a winning club”, and for once, it means the Reds.