.Joey Votto‘s social media days will have to be put on hold. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to a non-roster invite deal with the Canadian All-Star. A 17-year MLB veteran only played for one team, Votto became a free agent when the Cincinnati Reds declined his club option in November. The pairing is one that Blue Jays fans have been wanting for some time as Votto grew up in Etobicoke, just outside of Toronto.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to get back on a Major League field,” Votto said on ESPN’s broadcast of Thursday’s Braves-Red Sox game via Zoom. “I just miss it. It’s the best game. As the weather turns and the days get long and people get excited to be outside. You know, we have a game that is outside, it’s a party, it’s sunny, green grass,” he added.
Joey Votto has agreed to a non-roster invite with the Blue Jays. He is back.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 8, 2024
Joey Votto Lands Minor League Deal with Blue Jays
missing ball pic.twitter.com/r8ZG9gfU2i
— Joey Votto (@JoeyVotto) March 6, 2024
Votto, who turned 40 in September, came off a ten-year extension he signed in 2012 ran through 2023. The pact expired a few months ago as the Reds didn’t have many options to keep the veteran around. Cincinnati will move forward with their youth movement. They have a pile of position player prospects with Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Tyler Stephenson, Spencer Steer and Jonathan India. All four of those players will serve as first base options and they added to that group by signing Jeimer Candelario to a three-year, $45 million deal. That pushed Votto out the door to pursue playing for another team for the first time in his career.
The Blue Jays Need for Left-Handed Bats
The Blue Jays were connected to Votto early on in the offseason. Votto’s hometown ties and roster fit were two things that both sides mutual interest. Toronto has very few left-handed bats on the roster. It also an open designated hitter spot after the departure of Brandon Belt. However, Votto is well past his prime from the days of winning an MPV Award and six All-Star nods. He’s been battling a shoulder injury, undergoing surgery in 2022. Over the last two years, he hit .204/.317/.394 in 156 games. In that time frame, his 11.5% walk rate in that time was a few points below Votto’s career rate of 15.6%. He also has struck out in 25.7% of his plate appearances in those two seasons, drastically higher than his career clip of 18.8%.
Main Photo: © David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
