The prodigal son is coming home.
Joey Votto has agreed to a non-roster invite with the Blue Jays, ESPN's Buster Olney reported Friday. The deal comes two days after Votto posted a sad meme of him waiting to be signed.
Votto confirmed the signing on X (formerly Twitter).
"I am excited about the opportunity to work my way back to the Major Leagues," Votto said in a post on X. "It’s even sweeter to attempt this while wearing the uniform of my hometown team, the Toronto Blue Jays."
I am excited about the opportunity to work my way back to the Major Leagues. It’s even sweeter to attempt this while wearing the uniform of my hometown team, the Toronto Blue Jays. https://t.co/s7xEFLKe8V
— Joey Votto (@JoeyVotto) March 8, 2024
Votto, a likely future Hall of Fame first baseman, spent all 17 of his MLB seasons with the Reds before the team declined his option for 2024. He is a native of Toronto, having been raised in Etobicoke, and attended the Richview Collegiate Institute from which he was drafted in 2002.
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Here's what you need to know about Votto's deal with the Blue Jays.
Joey Votto contract details
Votto will be putting on a Blue Jays uniform, though there's no guarantee how long that will last. He signed a non-roster invite, meaning he will be participating in spring training with the Blue Jays moving forward.
The contract is a minor-league deal, though it gives him the option to earn his way onto the MLB roster before the start of the season.
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What is a non-roster invite?
The contract offered to Votto essentially means he can practice with the team during spring training even though he does not currently take up a 40-man roster spot or active roster spot.
Non-roster invites can be for minor-leaguers not on the 40-man roster and are often included in contracts when players sign minor-league contracts with teams. It does not guarantee any future spots on the roster.
The Blue Jays currently have a full 40-man roster, but placing anyone on the 60-day injured list or designating another player for assignment could free up a spot for Votto.
Joey Votto career earnings
Votto has reportedly made more than $242 million from his MLB career, per Spotrac. He is going to earn an additional $7 million from the Reds' buyout of his 2024 option.
In 2012, Votto signed a massive 10-year, $225 million extension with Cincinnati. It is the largest contract in Reds' history and, at the time, and the largest contract signed by a Canadian baseball player.
Joey Votto stats
Votto is among the best first basemen in MLB history. He has 2,135 hits, 356 home runs and has accumulated 64.4 bWAR (Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement).
| Year | Age | G | PA | HR | RBI | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 2007 | 23 | 24 | 89 | 4 | 17 | 5.6% | 16.9% | .321 | .360 | .548 |
| 2008 | 24 | 151 | 589 | 24 | 84 | 10.0% | 17.3% | .297 | .368 | .506 |
| 2009 | 25 | 131 | 544 | 25 | 84 | 12.9% | 19.5% | .322 | .414 | .567 |
| 2010 | 26 | 150 | 648 | 37 | 113 | 14.0% | 19.3% | .324 | .424 | .600 |
| 2011 | 27 | 161 | 719 | 29 | 103 | 15.3% | 17.9% | .309 | .416 | .531 |
| 2012 | 28 | 111 | 475 | 14 | 56 | 19.8% | 17.9% | .337 | .474 | .567 |
| 2013 | 29 | 162 | 726 | 24 | 73 | 18.6% | 19.0% | .305 | .435 | .491 |
| 2014 | 30 | 62 | 272 | 6 | 23 | 17.3% | 18.0% | .255 | .390 | .409 |
| 2015 | 31 | 158 | 695 | 29 | 80 | 20.6% | 19.4% | .314 | .459 | .541 |
| 2016 | 32 | 158 | 677 | 29 | 97 | 16.0% | 17.7% | .326 | .434 | .550 |
| 2017 | 33 | 162 | 707 | 36 | 100 | 19.0% | 11.7% | .320 | .454 | .578 |
| 2018 | 34 | 145 | 623 | 12 | 67 | 17.3% | 16.2% | .284 | .417 | .419 |
| 2019 | 35 | 142 | 608 | 15 | 47 | 12.5% | 20.2% | .261 | .357 | .411 |
| 2020 | 36 | 54 | 223 | 11 | 22 | 16.6% | 19.3% | .226 | .354 | .446 |
| 2021 | 37 | 129 | 533 | 36 | 99 | 14.4% | 23.8% | .266 | .375 | .563 |
| 2022 | 38 | 91 | 376 | 11 | 41 | 11.7% | 25.8% | .205 | .319 | .370 |
| 2023 | 39 | 65 | 242 | 14 | 38 | 11.2% | 25.6% | .202 | .314 | .433 |
| Career | -- | 2056 | 8746 | 356 | 1144 | 15.6% | 18.8% | .294 | .409 | .511 |