Joey Votto Oct 1, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) looks on during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
ArticlesMLBBy Jessica Kleinschmidt on

Joey Votto and Cincinnati Reds go together like peanuts and Cracker Jacks, but even those have an expiration date.

On Saturday, the Reds announced the club had declined the veteran first baseman’s 2024 option. That means Votto is no longer a member of the organization where he spent 17 seasons.

17. Seasons.

“For 17 seasons, Joey has been the heart of Reds baseball as a Most Valuable Player, All-Star and respected clubhouse leader,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said in a statement. “His contributions to our team and his extraordinary generosity toward those in need, throughout our region and beyond, cannot be measured.”

Krall then went on to say that at this point in the team’s off-season plans, Votto isn’t a part of them.

This is how the MLB world reacted.

To preface, y’all know I’m a huge Votto fan, so I will try to be as unbiased as possible.

Yes, Votto struggled over the last two seasons slashing a collective /.204/.317/.394 with 108 hits in 618 plate appearances.

However, he did hit .283/.345/.717 with runners in scoring position, and there are other positives to take out of his approach in 2023.

His career numbers are just as insane.

He was also riddled with injuries with the most recent being an injury where he underwent surgery on his left shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff and a torn biceps in Aug. 2022. It had been a recurring issue as the 2023 season continued.

If he does retire, this could have been his last game. A situation in which he was ejected.

 

Should he retire, he certainly has other opportunities.

He could join a broadcast.

While he was injured in 2022, he took his talents to the broadcast booth by joining John Sadak and Barry Larkin on Bally Sports Ohio where he proved to be an absolute natural.

He’s also one of the most disciplined hitters at the plate so a future in coaching isn’t farfetched. It’s ultimately whatever he wants to do.

Numbers aside, Votto is just … different. In the best ways possible.

Votto hasn’t made any decisions on his future yet, but whatever it is, he’ll thrive.

For now, Votto is a free agent for the first time in his career.

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.

View all posts by Jessica Kleinschmidt