The Joey Votto era might not be over. Well, at least there are teams reportedly ready to keep the book on his career open.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post said during a recent Bleacher Report Live that the Los Angeles Angels.
“The other hitter that I wanted to touch on is Joey Votto — who I think is a Hall of Fame candidate — to me, I’d have to look at it, but to me, it looks like he’s probably a Hall of Famer … for now I will say Votto — Bob Nightengale did report there were three teams, I believe the Angels are one of the teams in on Joey Votto. I think they like him. Is he willing to go out there? I mean, could he just be waiting around for a hometown — Toronto? Who was in the mix on [Jorge] Soler and several others, tried for [Amed] Rosario earlier …”
.@JonHeyman says the Angels are one of the teams with interest in Joey Votto pic.twitter.com/fp0VaDX7Mt
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) January 24, 2024
Heyman then added he doesn’t want to rule out the Blue Jays because of the hometown storyline for Votto and the fans as well.
Votto himself isn’t giving up, either. He told The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosencrans he has every intention of being at a camp’s spring training.
The Cincinnati Reds, the team Votto spent all 17 seasons of his career, denied his 2024 option.
Across his career, the veteran first baseman totaled 2,135 hits, 1,144 RBI and 356 home runs, slashing a career .294/.409/.511 with a 144 OPS+.
About Jessica Kleinschmidt
Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. She is the host of "Short and to the Point" and is also a broadcaster with the Oakland A's Radio Network. She previously worked for MLB.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.