With Joey Votto Starting Season On IL, Three Of The Four Highest-Paid Cincinnati Reds -- Two Of Whom Are Not Even On The Team -- Will Not Be On The Field On Opening Day

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As OutKick's Mike Gunzelman astutely pointed out recently, Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the highest-paid players on the Cincinnati Reds payroll. The highest-paid player, Joey Votto, is starting the season on the injured list.

The Reds released their second-highest-paid player, Mike Moustakas, in January. However, the team still owes Moustakas $22 million this season, according to Spotrac.

Of course, Ken Griffey, Jr. is 53 years old and has not played a game for the Cincinnati Reds in 15 years. He checks in as the fourth-highest when accounting for Moustakas.

When the Cincinnati Reds take the field for Opening Day on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, over $50 million in payroll will not. That number comprises the current salaries for Votto, Moustakas and Griffey, Jr.

Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds fields a ground ball during a spring training workout.

Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds fields a ground ball during a spring training workout. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

The highest-paid player who will actually take the field is Wil Myers. Myers signed a one-year, $6 million deal this offseason.

The Opening Day roster of 25 players will cost approximately $30 million in salary.

There are 17 MLB players who make about as much, or more, as the entire Cincinnati Reds Opening Day roster.

But why should the Cincinnati Reds spend any money? As owner Phil Castellini infamously said last season, "where are you gonna go?"

Well, Phil, as a Reds fan I can tell you where I'm not going to go. I'm not going to go to Great American Ballpark. Am I going to switch to another MLB team? No, I am not.

Good luck getting Cincinnati Reds fans to buy tickets to see the team this season.

Good luck getting Cincinnati Reds fans to buy tickets to see the team this season. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)

But I'm not spending a dime of money on this team until there's some return on investment.

There's a reason that #SellTheTeamBob trends on Twitter during Reds' games. Fans are tired of owners Bob and Phil Castellini.

Bob proudly stated, on the day he bought the team in 2006, he would "bring championship baseball back to Cincinnati." The Reds have not won a playoff series since 1995.

Sell the team, Bob.

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to Outkick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named “Brady” because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.