Joey Votto's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Free-agent first baseman Joey Votto has signed a non-roster invite deal to join the Toronto Blue Jays for spring training. The 40-year-old is from Toronto as the player and team seemed likely to at least connect on a minors deal this winter. Votto was relatively productive in the 2023 season, hitting just .202 but also slugging 14 home runs in just 65 games played while walking at a healthy 11.2% clip. He has seen his walk rates dip and his strikeout rates increase in recent seasons but his production hovered around league average a season ago, as per his 98 wRC+. He will battle for reps at designated hitter in the 2024 season but the Blue Jays also signed veteran Justin Turner to fill that void. Votto is well off the fantasy radar at this point.

Cincinnati Reds general manager Nick Krall told season-ticket holders that the team doesn't plan to re-sign long-time first baseman Joey Votto this offseason. "We don't plan to bring him back as of now," Krall said. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, considering the Reds have the most infield depth of any team in baseball, and Votto is entering his age-41 season. The six-time All-Star left-handed slugger is feeling great physically this offseason, but he's also played in 156 games combined the last two years due to shoulder issues. Votto broke out for a surprising 36 home runs in 2021, but since then he's slashed only .204/.317/.394 with 25 home runs and 79 RBI in 618 plate appearances. His best shot at big-league playing time might be as a designated hitter for the Toronto Blue Jays, but even then, he'll only be fantasy relevant for a bit of pop in AL-only leagues.

Free-agent first baseman Joey Votto said he's feeling better physically than he has in years after two months of rehab and strength training since the end of the 2023 season and believes that will be seen on the field, saying he's made "major improvements." Votto hasn't really gotten any bites in his first foray into free agency after spending 17 years with the Cincinnati Reds, though. The Reds have an abundance of infielders and multiple players who can split time at first base, so they have moved on from Votto. But the 40-year-old Canadian still thinks there's a place for him in the league, if only for his ability to hit right-handers -- he's hit .310/.418/.532 against them. Votto's last productive season was in 2021, when he surprisingly hit 36 homers. His days as an everyday player are likely over, and his best bet is to take a discount to return home to Toronto to play for the Blue Jays.