*Photo from KXAN*
The local boy is returning home. 1B Joey Votto and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a minor league contract and a non roster invitation to major league spring training, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. The deal has been confirmed.
Votto will earn $2 million with an additional $2 million in bonuses if he's in the major leagues. Votto had spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds, who declined the 2024 option they had in Votto's contract at the start of the offseason. Other teams were reportedly interested in signing him, but Votto chose to return to his hometown team.
Last season served as Votto's 17th year with the Reds, though he missed a large chunk of the season due to injury. When he was on the field, he had a .202/.314/.433 slash line with a 99 OPS+, hitting 6 doubles and 14 home runs to go with 38 RBI's in 65 games.
Votto grew up in Etobicoke, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto, and still lives there in the offseason. One of the best players to hail from Canada, Votto wants to be more than the feel good story he gives the Blue Jays by signing with them, as he is determined to make the major league roster.
As he leaves the Reds, Votto also leaves his name all over the team's record books. He was the NL MVP in 2010 and the runner up in 2017 while leading the NL in on base percentage 7 times. His 2,135 hits are the most among active players and second most among Canadian players, behind only Larry Walker.
Chosen by the Reds in the second round of the 2002 draft, Votto debuted in the majors in 2007. He has a .294/.409/.511 slash line with a 144 OPS+ to his name, hitting 356 home runs with 1,144 RBI's in 2,056 games. He has 10 hits and 5 walks over 47 plate appearances in 11 playoff games.
Votto will compete with Daniel Vogelbach and Eduardo Escobar for a spot on the bench in the majors, able to spell Vladimir Guerrero Jr at first base while also drawing reps at DH.
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