March 27: Votto will indeed begin the season on the injured list, Nightengale tweets.
March 25: Longtime Reds first baseman Joey Votto could begin the season on the injured list, as Votto himself told reporters including Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer. The Reds plan to defer to Votto’s judgment on whether or not he’s ready for Opening Day, according to Nightengale, with a decision possibly waiting until Opening Day rosters are due Thursday morning.
Votto, 39, is coming off the worst season of his career, where he slashed just .205/.319/.370 in 91 games before his season ended with surgery to repair his rotator cuff and bicep in August. Still, the future Hall of Famer is confident he can return to form in 2023 with those injuries behind him.
“I’ve done really well with my offensive work,” Votto told reporters. “I mean this, seriously, I think I’m going to play well. I think I’m going to perform well offensively. If not, I’m going to retire. End of story.”
That Votto, who is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract and will celebrate his 40th birthday before season’s end, would consider retirement at this stage of his career is no surprise, but it’s worth noting that his performance in 2023 will seemingly play a major role as he contemplates continuing his career. Should Votto decide to continue playing beyond 2023, the Reds hold a $20MM club option for the 2024 season with a $7MM buyout.
Regardless of Votto dons a Reds uniform for the seventeenth straight season on Opening Day or later on in the season, the Reds are sure to count on a return to form from their former MVP and six time All Star if they’re to have any hope of competing in 2023 coming off a 100 loss season in 2022. Despite his struggles in 2022, one needs to only look back to the 2021 season for proof of Votto’s impact when healthy and effective: even in his age-37 season, Votto slashed .266/.375/.563 with 36 home runs, good for a wRC+ of 139 en route to earning MVP votes for the first time since 2017, when he finished just two points behind winner Giancarlo Stanton in MVP balloting.
Votto went on to note that he wasn’t planning on rushing himself in order to be ready in time for Opening Day, noting that it’s his “responsibility” to be fully ready for the season before joining the team and returning to the lineup on a daily basis. Should Votto miss time, lefty infielder Jason Vosler seems poised to make the team in his stead, with Vosler, Wil Myers, and Tyler Stephenson all likely to contribute to the first base and DH mix while Votto is on the shelf.
That’s a shame. I hope he has a good season in what may be his last. Maybe a Pujols like surge for him.
If he has a good season, it probably won’t be a last. I hope he has a good season.
You have to respect the guy for trying even though there’s no reason to. It’s not like this team is going anywhere this year.
Isn’t that the story of his entire career?
Reds could make a surprise splash this year. I like their SP and bullpen. Big question remains, “Where will they get enough offense?”. To wit, given the bandbox of a home stadium, the Reds don’t figure to be in a lot of 1-0 or 2-1 nail biters.
Gonna need the young hitters to step up and produce. And by produce, I don’t mean swinging for the fences. Put the ball in play and do all the little things that help win games: advance runners on base; take a walk; go from first to third on a single; play good defense etc.
Not predicting playoffs for the Reds, but I can easily see them being right around .500. Gonna need some luck to do any better, however the NL Central isn’t very strong, so who knows what can happen?
when did we start calling Nightengale Bobby?
That’s the byline he’s using in the link, probably to distinguish himself from Bob Nightengale.
Yup. What are the odds two baseball writers have the name Bob Nightengale? I’d have gone with Robert Nightengale instead of Bobby.
What’s even more odd is two baseball analysts named Joe Sheehan.
And the craziest is the two Brady Fiegls who aren’t twins but sure look like it:
marca.com/en/mlb/2023/01/12/63bff41b22601dfb468b45…
Bob is Bobby’s dad. Not terribly surprising he followed dad’s footsteps
Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer is the son of Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
.689 OPS last season. Release/trade/dump him.
Definitely bad numbers, but that’s no way to treat a franchise icon/future HOF. The Reds aren’t going anywhere and this is his last guaranteed year. If he is bad again, he retires.
How is Votto a future HoF’er? His numbers are nowhere near the standard where past entries were expected to be.
Not the juiced ones, but there are plenty in the hall with Votto’s numbers. Check out the website ‘Hall of Stats” he’s clearly got the numbers.
hallofstats.com/player/vottojo01
Probably one of the last great players to not get to greedy and play his entire career for 1 team. I’ve always admired the guy.
Username checks out
Not greedy?? He was given a quarter of a billion dollar contract last time around hahaha. That was not a hometown discount in any way, shape, or form- and in fact, that was one of the criticisms of the contract when it was signed. If he were really not greedy, he would retire now and not take the extra $25 million this year, since he was horrible last year and hasn’t been good in half a decade. But of course he won’t do that and he will be horrible again this year and will just take the paycheck.
Hasn’t been good in half a decade? He hit 36 HRs in 2021
I don’t math good but I think that’s less than 5 yrs ago
@MarlinsFan – Votto hasn’t been good in the last 1/2 decade? He received MVP votes in 2021 with 36HRs and a 139 WRc+. That sounds pretty darn good to me! In fact, his 2021 performance is probably what ends up getting him over the hump for election into the Hall of Fame.
Votto is the face of the Reds organization and you have to respect the fact that he loves Cincinnati and never wanted to play anywhere else. Votto is one of those players you respect no matter what team you’re a fan of. I really hope he rebounds this season and puts an exclamation point on an amazing career. Next stop after that….Cooperstown.
Marlins fan? So you’re the ONE! Just jealous because your team can’t field a winner or attract quality free agents.
Marlins_Fan_2023 formerly:
–
then before that:
Still_No_Real_WS_Title_For_LA_Since_1988
I think Votto was / is paid to play. That’s what a contract is. So no one ‘gave’ him anything.
I’d politely advise halting the making fun of people’s names (childish) too.
Please do keep posting. The laughs are great.
@Marlins Fan: How is it greedy of him if the Reds offered it? Is he supposed to say, “No thanks, I’d prefer less money”?
It was a negotiation- they didn’t just offer it- and Votto squeezed every penny he could out of Cincinnati and that was one of the criticisms of the contract at the time. Now Votto is of course going to fall on his face again this year just like last year and just collect the paycheck. Joey Votto sucks (and is aging horribly and looks 50, but that’s an aside).
What are the powerball numbers for this week while you got your crystal ball out?
@Marlins Fan: No, it was an offer. That’s what negotiation is. Offer, counter-offer. There’s no reason for Votto to not go after every penny that the Reds will offer.
Greed and a lack of loyalty go both ways. Ty Cobb didn’t end his career with the Tigers, Hank Aaron didn’t finish with the Braves, and Willie Mays didn’t end with the Giants. The latter two went back to the cities they started in, but that’s because their original teams didn’t keep them.
I think you’re confusing greed with signing with whoever will pay you.
@gbs42: And Jackie Robinson was traded to the NY Giants…..
What does everyone think about whether a) he will be Hall of Fame and b) a Hall of Famer known for bad contract.
Borderline hall of famer at best and would only get in based on WAR (and even then it’s very borderline). Definitely doesn’t have the counting stats for it.
Scott Rolen got into the HOF (Gulp!). If he made it, Joey is a shoo-in to be inducted.
We all know what WAR is good for, stat boy.
HOFer.
No one will remember his contract. Just the player.
If he retired before playing a game this season, Votto is likely in the HOF. He might not get in on the 1st ballot, but he will get in.
First Base (12th):
64.3 career WAR | 46.9 7yr-peak WAR | 55.6 JAWS | 5.2 WAR/162
Average HOF 1B (out of 24):
65.0 career WAR | 41.8 7yr-peak WAR | 53.4 JAWS | 4.8 WAR/162
What bad contract did he sign? Bad for him or for the team? He has been paid $193 million from 2014-2022 and has 30.0 WAR over that period. So far, the contract is pretty even or slightly in the team’s favor. At around an $8 million per WAR price tag for FA over his contract time frame, that 30 WAR has been a $240 million value for the team.
Somehow, I don’t think either party is complaining.
I would sure like to see Votto repeat his 2021 performance. 120-130 games. A 3-4 WAR. Extremely respectable at 39-years-old and it should lock him into playing in 2024 for a net $13 million decision for the club. ($20 million salary or $7 million buyout.
Votto will make the HOF and he’s known for far more than his contract. Quit pocket watching
A. He will be a HOFer for sure. B. Per BBREF he has a slash line of .283/.406/.490 and an OPS+ of 137 during this current contract. Sure there has been a decline at the backend but this contract looks like a win for sides to me. As a Braves fan and baseball fan, I hope he does bounce back this year.
He’s a HoFer. Probably not on the first ballot but he’ll get in. His numbers compare well with Edgar Martinez (and he has an MVP) and he still has a chance to improve them.
Article should describe him as a likely hall of famer rather than that it is a sure thing. He only has six all star appearances and barely has 2000 hits and 340 homers. One time gold glover. His walks and high on base percentage should get him in but another stinker of a season will make it closer.
If Scott Rolen got in Votto will as well. He had a very good 10 year stretch from about 2008-2018 that is what the voters look at these days. The days of having to get 3000 hits or 600 doubles or 500 home runs are over. It now the hall of very good players.
Or just smile on the camera and be quirky, the media love characters
What about Berkman? He has a higher OPS than Votto.(,926 to .943). Days of the old numbers aren’t over but the days of longevity seem to be, therefore, what could have been. Kinda like how Hank Greenberg would have gotten in regardless if there was a world war or not..
The most intelligent man in all of MLB. His i.q. for baseball and for all things is amazing. Also very clever and a funny dude. Hope he has a killer year.
You could see it coming. He is not quite right yet in the games so far. But give him credit for trying to be ready by the opener.
Votto has been such a pleasure to watch play. I am hoping he has a good season just so we can see another year from him in 2024.
What a terrible quote. He sounds like a train wreck so of course the reds will give him medical and management rights. Why not ? We are the reds after all.
HOF player at the end of his career. Just because I hate seeing great players go out with a whimper, I hope he can put together a decent season.
A lot of great players have gone out with a whimper because they couldn’t convince themselves they no longer had what it takes to pitch or hit at the highest level.
As a Phillies fan, it broke my heart watching Steve Carlton after he left the Phillies embarrass himself with the Giants, ChiSox, Indians and Twins.
Give Joey credit for saying he’s only gonna play if he believes he can help his team and that he would retire if he couldn’t.
He could repeat his best year ever and the Reds won’t pick up his option. It’s no secret that they’ve used his contract as an excuse not to compete, or at least that’s the trope repeated by player-blaming fans.
More certain fans, who like to blame everything on him because he makes the most. They have them in every city.
The team hasn’t really used his contract has an excuse, actually more Moose’s and the inequity between large and small markets more than anything. They just aren’t paying anyone and say they are not giving out long term deals at this time.
The inequity plays a part to some extent, greater as time goes by and it goes unanswered, but front office mismanagement since the last playoff appearance played a bigger part.
Will he make the HOF???
If Todd Helton is trending up now at 72% now to get in, I’d say Votto has a very good shot. Probably will take a few years on the ballot.
“I’ve done really well with my offensive work,” Votto told reporters. “I mean this, seriously, I think I’m going to play well. I think I’m going to perform well offensively. If not, I’m going to retire. End of story.”
GUARANTEED that joey votto will not leave any money on the table when he inevitably falls on his face again this season like he did last season. So joey votto is a liar, too.
Have you ever made a positive comment in your life?
Show me on the doll where Joey touched you
He won’t have to leave money on the table. Bad performance means buyout initiated. Once bought out he’s a free agent. Retire. Done.
EVERY high priced long term contract will end badly. At least the Reds got zero championships out of it.