By all accounts, Votto doesn't want to leave Cincy, for whatever reason, partially because he seems to be under the impression that last season was rock bottom and things will start trending up in 2016. He may come around, but it probably won't be anytime real soon. And I can't see Mozeliak taking on the rest of Votto's contract. He's great now, but the end of that deal is probably going to be some serious dead weight. Plus there's the cost: most of the Cardinals' prospect depth is in the low minors, and Cincy would probably want MLB ready talent, so discussions would probably start with more than one of Reyes, Martinez, Piscotty, etc. And I would imagine that the talent cost for enticing a mid-market like the Reds to eat much of that contract would be eye watering. I don't see a deal sending Votto to St. Louis that doesn't end up being a lateral move for the present and a net loss down the line. Aside from that, it really seems like Cincy has been half-assing this rebuild. They don't seem to be as motivated to move assets as they should be, and the returns on the deals they have made have been less than impressive.