Latest On Joey Votto – MLB Trade Rumors

Longtime Reds first baseman Joey Votto seemingly noticed his 22-year tenure as a member of the group come to a detailed again in November when the crew declined their club option on his companies for the 2024 season. Votto has made clear that he plans to proceed enjoying in 2024 whether or not in a Reds uniform or not, nevertheless, and as such has entered free company for the primary time in his 17-year large league profession. Based on USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, three groups are presently expressing curiosity within the companies of the veteran slugger. It’s a noteworthy improvement in Votto’s market, seeing as previous to at this time the one membership that had been related to the 40-year-old this winter was his hometown Blue Jays.

A possible future Corridor of Famer, Votto slashed an eye-popping .315/.436/.545 throughout 9 seasons from 2009 to 2017, good for a wRC+ of 162. Throughout that peak, he represented the Reds on the All Star recreation 5 occasions, received the NL MVP award in 2010, completed as a finalist in each 2015 and 2017, and acquired votes for the award in each season besides 2014, when he was restricted to only 62 video games by accidents. Since getting into his mid-thirties, nevertheless, Votto has begun to say no on the plate. From 2018 to 2020, Votto slashed an uncharacteristic .265/.382/.400 (114 wRC+) with simply 38 residence runs in 341 video games, a far cry from his profession .313/.428/.541 slash line getting into the 2018 marketing campaign.

Whereas the 2021 season noticed Votto rebound on the age of 37 with a powerful .266/.375/.563 slash line (140 wRC+) as he slugged 36 residence runs in simply 129 video games, the veteran has been dogged by damage woes ever since. He’s been restricted to only 156 video games over the previous two seasons by shoulder surgical procedure and when wholesome sufficient to take the mound has slashed a paltry .204/.317/.394 that clocks in slightly below league common with a wRC+ of 95. Votto noticed flashes of success as he managed a stable .219/.323/.533 slash line with 13 residence runs in simply 41 video games by August 9 this previous season, however in the end ran out of gasoline down the stretch and slashed simply .169/.298/.239 the remainder of the way in which.

Regardless of the inauspicious finish to his 2023 season, Votto advised C. Trent Rosencrans of The Athletic throughout a latest interview that he isn’t involved about discovering a job with an enormous league membership this winter, noting that “this can be a good place to be” as long as he continues to really feel wholesome.

“I’ve stated this during the last couple of years — if I’m wholesome, I can play for mainly everybody,” Votto advised Rosencrans. “I stated it in ’21, it was simple once more, my recreation had developed…it simply so occurred that the final couple of years, I’ve been working by a fairly critical damage. I believed I competed nicely. I’d prefer to enter the season absolutely wholesome and play with confidence, understanding that my instincts had been right and that when wholesome, I used to be nonetheless in a position to compete.”

As Votto notes, it’s inconceivable to disregard the numerous damage woes he’s handled the previous two seasons. Given how profitable he was in his final absolutely wholesome season, it’s removed from inconceivable to think about the veteran bouncing again to provide at a stable degree within the majors subsequent yr. Whereas will get an increasing number of troublesome to take care of in a participant’s late 30s and 40s, it’s removed from inconceivable for a participant to seek out success even at that superior age. Nelson Cruz slashed .265/.334/.497 in his age-40 marketing campaign again in 2021, whereas 2022 noticed 42-year-old Albert Pujols submit an unbelievable .270/.345/.550 slash line with 24 residence runs in simply 350 plate appearances throughout his farewell season. Whereas a season that robust from a quadragenarian is sort of uncommon, Votto wouldn’t have to copy these unbelievable efforts to be a productive main leaguer.

Nightengale didn’t identify the three groups with curiosity in Votto’s companies headed into 2024, however it’s not arduous to determine groups he might be a speculative match for. The aforementioned Blue Jays are an apparent choose for the Toronto native given his ties to town and the membership’s must discover a alternative for Brandon Belt as a lefty-swinging DH. Wanting past Votto’s homeland, the Nationals are reportedly in the market for a left-handed energy bat who might function a complement to Joey Meneses at first base and DH.

In the meantime, the Padres have a gap at DH and have traded away lefty bats Juan Soto, Trent Grisham, and Matt Carpenter in an try to clear wage this winter. Votto might present San Diego with a comparatively cheap lefty bat who might be parked at DH or play first base within the occasion Jake Cronenworth is moved again to the keystone in 2024. The Mariners, Astros, and Angels are amongst different golf equipment who might stand to learn from including a lefty-swinging veteran to their first base/DH combine, although Votto would seemingly be relegated to a bench function with any of these golf equipment.