Joey Votto to Join Blue Jays As Non-Roster Invitee in Free Agency Homecoming

Joey Votto’s free agency is finally over. The veteran first baseman has agreed to join the Toronto Blue Jays on a non-roster invite, ESPN’s Buster Olney first reported. Votto himself confirmed the news on social media.

“I am excited about the opportunity to work my way back to the Major Leagues. It’s even sweeter to attempt this while wearing the uniform of my hometown team, the Toronto Blue Jays,” he wrote.

Votto will make $2 million on the deal, with the possibility of another $2 million in incentives, according to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson.

Up to this point, Votto had spent the entirety of his 17-year career with the Cincinnati Reds as the cornerstone of that franchise. The first baseman won the NL MVP in 2010, leading the league in on-base percentage seven times and making six All-Star games.

Votto has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, and the Reds opted not to bring him back following the ’23 season. Last year, Votto played in just 65 games and totaled 14 home runs with a .202 batting average and .747 OPS.

The first baseman spent the offseason holding out for a major league deal, but had to settle for a non-roster invite instead. However, Votto maintained that he is not ready to retire, having some fun with his lack of interest from teams along the way.

Votto also referenced his joking TikTok threat to stop putting away shopping carts if he remained unsigned with another social media post.

As Votto said in his follow-up tweet, one benefit of this deal is a return home, as he was born and raised in Toronto. While the Blue Jays have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base, Votto could find a role as a lefty bat off the bench.