Joey Votto discussed the possibility of signing a long-term contract extension with the Reds on Friday, for what he hopes is the final time. "I'm going to make pretty simple for just about everybody. You guys are going to get the same answer. I'm going to leave all that to Reds front office, my agent and myself, keep it as private as possible," Votto said. "I don't think it's fair to the fans. It's certainly not fair to the team to let this stuff creep into the season and become a distraction. "I plan making some sort of comment if I sign an extension or if I get to the point where I go to free agency." Votto wants to avoid the distraction, particularly while he's under contract. "I'm human and it's a distraction," he said. "As much as people, players want to say, 'no, it's not a distraction.' It's exhausting. It's a lingering issue. The team knows about it. Fans know about it. The bottom line is every player has the right to say yes or no. Clearly, it's my decision. "Once the public gets a handle on it, I can really turn bad. I don't want that. I'm in a lucky spot. I signed a three-year deal last year. I have two years on my deal. I'm in a position where I don't have to comment on contracts."