Joey Votto is expected to be named to Canada's World Baseball Classic roster. Since he was injured last season, Votto needed to pass a physical before being allowed to play for his native country. The official rosters will be released Wednesday.

Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports that Joey Votto passed his physical and made it through Friday's workout without any issues. Votto, who is still rehabbing from a surgically-repaired left knee, was able to stretch, run, field and take batting practice without favoring his knee. The veteran slugger should be 100% by the start of the season, and shouldn't make it out of the first round in any fantasy drafts this spring.

Reds medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek visited Joey Votto in Florida two weeks ago and said that the first baseman's surgically-repaired left knee is fine. "He's doing well," said Kremchek. "He looks great." Votto has yet to report to the team's spring training complex in Goodyear, but it appears he should be fine for spring training and Opening Day. The 29-year-old should be one of the first first baseman off the board in fantasy drafts this spring.

Joey Votto has not been named to Team Canada's initial roster for the 2013 WBC, as he must first pass an insurance physical since he was injured last season. Canada's head coach Greg Hamilton said Saturday that he has "every reason to believe there will be no issue whatsoever" with Votto's physical, which is a strong indication that the first baseman will eventually join up with the team. Votto stated in December that he wouldn't participate unless his surgically-repaired left knee was at 100 percent. It seems that it is.

Joey Votto said Friday that he won't play in the World Baseball Classic unless his left knee is 100 percent. Votto said his surgically-repaired knee is much better, but not quite at 100 percent. While he intends to play for Canada during the World Baseball Classic, he'll need to make some more progress in order for the Reds to be comfortable with the idea.

The Reds' Dusty Baker, the Giants' Bruce Bochy and the Nationals' Davey Johnson have been announced as finalists for the National League Manager of the Year award. Bochy ended up taking his team to a second World Series title in three years, but this award was voted on prior to the postseason, so Johnson is probably the favorite. The Nats' skipper led his team to a major league-leading 98 wins. The winner will be announced on November 13.

The Reds signed manager Dusty Baker to a two-year contract extension on Monday morning. The press conference will be held at 3:00 p.m. ET inside Great American Ball Park. Baker led the Reds to a fantastic 97-65 record and a first-place finish in the National League Central division this season. He has a 419-391 record since taking over the managerial job in Cincinnati back in 2008.

Joey Votto has admitted that his surgically-repaired left knee was an issue for him down the stretch. Votto hasn't given any indication that another procedure might be required, but it was obvious given his zero home runs in five weeks after the surgery that he wasn't the same. The first baseman didn't have an extra-base hit or an RBI during the NLDS. "Really I've got two choices, I can either try to stretch it out, try to hit homers, try to be something I can't," Votto said. "Or I can try to shrink it down a bit and try to help out in the different way. I decided to do that. That's the only option I had. I thought I did a really good job of keeping things in prospective and doing the best I can."

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Reds are expected to offer manager Dusty Baker a short-term contract extension. General manager Walt Jocketty is meeting with Baker and the rest of his coaching staff Friday and is on record as saying he anticipates everyone returning next season. Baker, 63, has said that he plans to continue managing but didn't commit to doing so with Cincinnati.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty expects manager Dusty Baker to return to the team in 2013. Jocketty will meet with Baker and his coaching staff Friday and anticipates everyone coming back next year. Though the season certainly ended on a sour note by blowing the NLDS against the Giants, the Reds won 97 games during the regular season and have taken the NL Central two of the last three years. It's possible Baker's health issues might give the 63-year-old pause, but he's given no indication to this point that they would.