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Former MVP Joey Votto Agrees to Minor League Deal with Toronto Blue Jays
Former MVP Joey Votto, who has been voicing his desire to return to baseball, has reached an agreement on a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, as reported by industry sources. Votto recently expressed his willingness to do whatever it takes to get back on a major league field during an interview on an ESPN exhibition broadcast.
The Toronto Blue Jays, Votto’s hometown team, are affording the veteran player this opportunity. Born and raised in Toronto, Votto’s residence is just 25 minutes away from the Jays’ ballpark. Having spent 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Votto boasts an impressive resume of six All-Star appearances and an NL MVP title. Known for his consistent on-base percentage and power throughout his career, Votto became a free agent at the conclusion of last season after a prolonged stint with the Reds.
Despite facing difficulties in securing a new team for the past few weeks, Votto remained determined to make a comeback, citing his recovery from major shoulder surgery as a key factor. In a recent discussion on the Baseball Tonight podcast, Votto expressed optimism about his health condition for the first time in years, attributing it to his dedicated workout regimen.
Although the specifics of Votto’s role within the Blue Jays organization remain unclear, given his late entry into the spring training period, it is likely that he will begin his journey in the minor leagues. This approach will provide Votto with the necessary time to regain his game form while allowing the Jays to assess his performance and potential impact on the team.
With the departure of left-handed hitter Brandon Belt in the offseason, the Blue Jays are in search of left-handed options to complement their predominantly right-handed lineup, featuring stars like Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Veteran lefty Daniel Vogelbach and switch-hitter Eduardo Escobar are currently part of the Blue Jays’ training camp roster, indicating a deliberate effort to introduce more balance to their batting order.
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