Joey Votto has spent his total skilled profession with the Reds group, relationship again to his second-round choice within the 2002 MLB draft and his Main League debut in 2007. If he hopes to swimsuit up for an 18th MLB marketing campaign, nevertheless, it appears more and more doubtless it’ll be with a brand new crew. Cincinnati president of baseball operations Nick Krall all however confirmed as a lot when requested by season-ticket holders whether or not Votto would return (hyperlink by way of Mark Sheldon of MLB.com). “We don’t plan to convey him again as of now,” Krall candidly replied.
A crowded Reds infield combine has already pushed jack-of-all-trades Spencer Steer to left subject. Cincinnati deepened its wealth of infield expertise earlier within the winter, signing third baseman Jeimer Candelario to a three-year, $45M pact. He joins Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte, Jonathan India and Christian Encarnacion-Strand as choices across the infield (with Steer on-hand within the occasion that accidents necessitate a transfer again onto the dust). That glut of names already made Votto an extended shot to return, but it surely’s nonetheless unusual for any govt to remark straight on an unsigned participant’s match along with his or her membership (or on this case, the shortage thereof).
Votto, 40, has already acknowledged he hopes to proceed his profession. The six-time All-Star and former Nationwide League MVP spoke with C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic earlier within the offseason and mentioned his struggles whereas enjoying by way of a shoulder harm that required surgical procedure in 2022 and continued to trigger him hassle in 2023. Votto opened the 2023 season on the injured checklist and had a productive 41-game stint upon being activated, however was positioned again on the injured checklist in August and wilted upon his return to the roster.
It’s simple to take a look at Votto’s total .202/.314/.433 slash and be underwhelmed, however a poor displaying post-IL stint severely weighed down his manufacturing. Votto went hitless in 18 plate appearances earlier than touchdown on the injured checklist, and he batted simply .211/.362/.316 in 47 journeys to the plate following his return. General, his season ended with a .164/.292/.236 swoon in 65 plate appearances.
Any crew signing Votto will likely be hoping for higher well being. Doing so would require minimal monetary threat in all chance, and Votto confirmed as just lately because the 2021 season — his age-37 marketing campaign — that he might produce much better than most hitters at this stage of their careers. That season noticed him flip in a wonderful .266/.375/.563 batting line and membership 36 residence runs, only one huge fly shy of his career-high 37 set again in 2010. A rebound to that degree of manufacturing at age 40 and with a current shoulder surgical procedure on his medical report won’t be notably possible, however touchdown someplace in the midst of his ’21 and his ’22-’23 output would nonetheless make Votto an above-average performer; when combining that 2021 manufacturing and his 2022-23 struggles, Votto nonetheless checks in with a .233/.344/.471 batting line (116 wRC+).
It’s been a quiet offseason with regard to Votto. The Blue Jays, as they’ve been for a number of years, have been tied to the Toronto native. USA At this time’s Bob Nightengale reported just lately that three groups have been presently having some degree of talks with the profession .294/.409/.511 hitter.
There’s certainly a logical match on the Jays, who noticed Brandon Belt develop into a free agent at season’s finish, and have a closely right-handed lineup. Votto might share time at first base with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and see loads of time because the designated hitter, the place the Blue Jays presently don’t have a transparent common choice. Different groups identified to be looking out for assist at first base and/or designated hitter embody the D-backs, Twins, Padres and Marlins (to call a number of). Accidents and/or trades throughout the Reds’ present infield corps might probably clear a path again to Nice American Ball Park, however for now Krall made clear that such an association isn’t within the playing cards.
Given the doubtless low value of signing Votto, it’s simple sufficient to take a position on him as a match with upwards of half the league. Curiosity figures to be fairly a bit extra restricted than that, given his age and up to date struggles, however he represents a comparatively low-risk signing who’s nonetheless solely a pair years faraway from a standout displaying on the plate.
