MLB Rumors: Joey Votto 'Has 3 Teams Expressing Interest' in FA After Reds Exit
Potential future Hall of Fame first baseman Joey Votto is reportedly generating interest on the free-agent market.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, three teams have shown interest in possibly signing the 40-year-old veteran.
Votto had some fun with that report on social media:
Votto has spent his entire 17-year MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds, but the organization declined the club option in his contract for 2024 and publicly bid farewell to him in November.
While Votto has struggled to stay healthy the past two seasons and has seen his production dip because of it, his overall track record is undeniable.
In 2,056 career regular-season games, Votto has slashed .294/.409/.511 with 356 home runs, 1,144 RBI, 1,171 runs scored, 459 doubles and 2,135 total hits.
Votto is also a six-time All-Star and one-time Gold Glove Award winner at first base and was named National League MVP in 2010 when he slashed .324/.424/.600 with 37 homers and 113 RBI.
Although Votto has never won a batting title despite hitting .300 or better in a season nine times, he has led the NL in walks on five occasions, in on-base percentage seven times and in OPS twice.
Votto has long been one of the most patient hitters in baseball, and even as his skills have diminished, that has remained true.
In 2022, Votto hit just .205 in 91 games, but he still had a .319 OBP to go along with 11 homers and 41 RBI.
Similarly, Votto had a career-low .202 average and .314 on-base percentage last season. He showed that he still has some pop, though, producing 14 home runs and 38 RBI in only 65 games.
Votto is not far removed from an All-Star-caliber season either, as he slashed .266/.375/.563 with 36 homers and 99 RBI in 2021.
At this stage in his career, Votto would likely be best utilized as a designated hitter, and it may even be best to put the lefty hitter in a platoon that sees him primarily face right-handed pitching.
Even in that type of limited role, Votto could still have some value since he is capable of working counts, grinding out walks and hitting home runs at a fairly regular clip.
It is fair to wonder if the Toronto Blue Jays are one of the teams interested in Votto, as he was born in Toronto and wouldn't have to be a key part of an already stacked lineup.
A World Series win is the one major accomplishment missing from Votto's résumé, and if he signs with a team and manages to win a championship, it could be the thing that assures him an eventual spot in Cooperstown.
