DUNEDIN Fla. – Joey Votto, the likely Hall of Famer from Etobicoke, Ont., announced Friday that he’s signing a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays, the team he cheered for growing up.
The move adds intrigue to the Blue Jays’ bench as the 40-year-old Votto has one of the best batting eyes of his generation to go along with 356 career home runs. But he was limited to 65 games a year ago as he returned from biceps and rotator cuff injuries, and hit .202/.314/.433 with 14 home runs. How much he can contribute in his 18th career season remains to be seen.
“Incredible player, remarkable career,” Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins said at the 2023 GM Meetings. “Just massive impact in the community if he were to be a Toronto Blue Jay. So definitely something that we would have to consider if that was something he wanted to pursue.”
Once he joins the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., Votto will likely be in the mix for a bench role. His presence will seemingly make it harder for Daniel Vogelbach to break camp on a minor-league deal of his own.
Interestingly, both players would earn $2 million at the big-league level if they make the team, as reported by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, who notes that Votto’s deal also includes $2 million in incentives. The deal is pending a physical, and could be announced in the coming days.
Considering Justin Turner is likely to get the majority of the Blue Jays’ DH at-bats, there’s not likely room for more than one left-handed hitting first base/DH type on the team’s bench. But the Blue Jays likely wouldn’t have signed Votto if there weren’t a realistic path to playing time at the big-league level, which suggests Vogelbach’s hold on a roster spot may be weakening unless Votto needs more than three weeks of at-bats to get ready for the season.
Whether it’s Votto or Vogelbach, a left-handed bench bat would have real value off the Blue Jays’ bench, by pinch hitting for someone like Santiago Espinal late in a game against a tough right-handed reliever, for instance, or starting at DH against a right-hander with Turner playing the field.
Votto spent the first 17 seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, hitting .294/.409/.511 on his way to six all-star selections and an MVP. A source said other contending teams pursued Votto before he signed with Toronto.
Also in competition for spots on the Blue Jays’ bench are Santiago Espinal, Eduardo Escobar, Ernie Clement, Davis Schneider and Spencer Horwitz.
