Joey Votto has stepped away from baseball. The star first baseman, who had been on a minor league contract with the Blue Jays, announced his retirement on Instagram on Wednesday evening. He didn’t get to the majors with his hometown team but played an illustrious 17-year career with the Reds.
Votto provided a lengthy statement alongside a brief video of him departing Sahlen Field, home of the Jays’ Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo. Votto thanked his family, various former teammates and coaches, and the fans. He expressed some regret that he wasn’t able to make it to the big leagues with the Jays, adding that he’s “just not good anymore” before thanking the Canadian fanbase for their support and expressing his love for Cincinnati. “I was myself in this sport. I was able to be my best self. I played this sport with every last ounce of my body, heart, and mind. Thank you for everything,” he concluded.
The Reds drafted Votto out of a Toronto prep school in 2002. He’d emerged as one of Baseball America’s top 50 prospects by the time he hit his way to Triple-A five years later. Votto debuted as a September call-up in ’07. He hit the ground running in 24 games and would break through as their everyday first baseman the following year.
Votto hit .297/.368/.506 with 24 homers and 32 doubles in his first full season. He finished runner-up to Cubs catcher Geovany Soto in Rookie of the Year balloting. Votto emerged as an elite hitter by year two, hitting .322/.414/.567 with 25 longballs and 38 doubles. He finished in the top 10 among qualifiers in all three slash stats.
That kicked off a nearly decade-long run during which Votto was among the game’s best players. He had arguably his best season in 2010. Votto led the majors with a .424 on-base percentage and topped the National League with an even .600 slugging mark. He hit .324 with 37 homers and a career-best 113 runs batted in. It was a dominating performance by counting and rate stats alike that nabbed him a rather convincing win over Albert Pujols and Carlos González in NL MVP balloting. Votto was the best player on a Cincinnati team that won 91 games and an NL Central title.
It was the first of four straight seasons in which the lefty hitter topped the NL in on-base percentage. He led the league in walks every year from 2011-13. His extraordinarily patient approach occasionally made him a target of criticism among some fans who preferred he were more aggressive, but Votto also filled a prototypical run producer role. He ranked 20th in RBI and 21st in homers among MLB hitters between 2010-13. Among hitters with 1500+ plate appearances, only Miguel Cabrera and Joe Mauer hit for a better average. Votto led the majors in OBP and ranked seventh in slugging. Votto made the All-Star Game in all four seasons and thrice finished in the top 10 in MVP voting. Cincinnati made the playoffs in three of those years, although they never advanced past the Division Series.
Midway through that run, the Reds committed to Votto as the face of their franchise. They signed him to a 10-year, $225MM extension early in the 2012 season. It remains the biggest investment in the organization’s history. While the team didn’t have a ton of success over the decade, that’s not any fault of their first baseman. He remained an impact hitter until the tail end of the contract.
A quad injury wiped out the bulk of Votto’s 2014 campaign. He returned at full strength the following year, hitting .314/.459/.541 to snag a third-place MVP finish. He would lead the NL in on-base percentage in each of the three seasons after that, earning two more top 10 MVP placements in the process. Between 2015-18, he hit .312/.442/.525 with 106 homers while walking more often than he struck out.
The 2018 season was the final of Votto’s six All-Star campaigns. His production tailed off between 2019-20 and it seemed he’d firmly entered the decline phase of his career. While that was the case to some extent, Votto had one more excellent year ahead of him. He rebounded with a surprising 36-homer outburst (tied for the second-most he hit in any season) with a .266/.375/.563 slash in 2021. That proved to be his last strong season, as he stumbled to replacement level numbers while battling shoulder issues between 2022-23.
Votto earned a well-deserved salute from Cincinnati fans in his final game at Great American Ball Park last September. The guaranteed portion of his contract wrapped up and the Reds made the obvious call to buy him out in lieu of a costly club option for 2024. Votto signed the minor league deal with the Jays during the only free agent trip of his career. He suffered an ankle injury in his first Spring Training game, keeping him on the IL well into July. Votto returned to action midway through the month but hit .143 in 15 Triple-A contests before deciding it was time to move on.
While that keeps him from ever appearing in a Jays uniform at Rogers Centre, it allows him to retire having spent his entire MLB career with one team. He’s one of the best players in Reds’ history and is among the most productive first basemen in league history. Votto will surely garner serious Hall of Fame consideration when his name appears on the ballot in five years.
By Jay Jaffe’s JAWS metric (designed to provide a comparison point for players against Hall of Famers), Votto ranks 12th among first basemen. The 11 players above him are either in the Hall of Fame or, in the cases of Pujols and Cabrera, locks for induction when first eligible. The player just behind Votto, Rafael Palmeiro, is not in the Hall, largely because of his ties to performance-enhancing drugs. The following three players — Willie McCovey, Todd Helton and Eddie Murray — were all inducted.
Votto didn’t provide quite the level of power associated with a Hall of Fame first baseman. He steps away with 356 homers (29th at the position) and 1144 runs batted in (49th). Those are no small accomplishments for the vast majority of players, of course, but Votto’s overall excellence was driven primarily by his on-base ability. He finishes his career with a .294 average and a huge .409 on-base percentage. He led the NL in the latter category on seven occasions.
While Votto surprisingly never won a Silver Slugger award — overlapping in the NL with Pujols and Paul Goldschmidt during his prime played a role — he had six top 10 MVP finishes. He earned a Gold Glove in 2011 and the aforementioned MVP honors the year prior. Baseball Reference valued Votto’s career around 64 wins above replacement, while FanGraphs credited him with 59 WAR. That’s right at the threshold at which position players tend to receive legitimate Hall of Fame consideration.
Votto would certainly have offers to stay involved in the game if he wishes to do so. He complemented his litany of on-field accomplishments with a cerebral approach to hitting and a sarcastic wit that’d no doubt provide coaching or media opportunities if he wanted to take them. Votto didn’t tip his hand in his retirement announcement about any plans for the future. We at MLBTR congratulate him on a fantastic career and wish him the best in his post-playing days.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Nooooooo
Yesss!
Very good career but not a HOFer in my book. I have an idea for the HOF election rules. Those players who get nominated for a veterans committee vote, how about returning them to the active voting for another five years? They shouldn’t have to wait three years for another possible try.
As a Cardinals fan Votto was a thorn in our side for many years but nothing but respect for the man and how he played the game. It’s a hard thing to admit that you just don’t have it anymore but it happens to everyone. I think his love of the game pushed him to give it one more go and some people will say it was a mistake but I think he’s just the kind of guy who didn’t want to look back and think maybe he had one more season in him and maybe one last chance at a ring. HOF career I’m sure he has no regrets
Immediately. The reds should hire him as the hitting coach. I’d say manager, but I don’t think joey would accept replacing bell.
Could he do much worse, those reds players seem so talented specially offensively but not sure why they struggle to even hang around .500, obviously it’s pitching but with so much youth on the field you’d think that’d compliment pitching enough but not sure (as a Brewers fan) exactly what the “deal” is, with the pirates it usually seems fairly obvious, they draft “talented athletes” that aren’t really baseball players and don’t have the organization/coaching staffs to develop internally enough talent so they end up signing “Rowdy” Tellez to play first base…. But the reds have legit talent so perhaps getting Votto in charge would help get these seemingly talented reds teams over the “hump”/ help them realize more potential
Watching Votto hit .165 in AAA didn’t feel right. Good luck in retirement, Joey. See you in Cooperstown.
Please.. Good, solid ballplayer for many years. Definately not HOF caliber.
List is very long of players who hit very well, had sweet gloves at defensive positions more challenging than 1b, yet will never get enshrined.
Why do so many think decent, modern players are automatically HOF worthy when they retire? is it so difficult to research previous players, often better who never made it?
Unfortunately for you, half of the voters will reference JAWS on Baseball Reference and vote him in. My guess will be 2032.
I agree, Silver. Players like Lou Whitaker need to be enshrined well before Joey. Love Votto, but HOF? The numbers aren’t there, especially from a power position.
You got that right Gwynning. Lou Whitaker should already be in the HOF.
It’s a travesty and extreme injustice that Sweet Lou is not in the Hall. What a disgrace by Cooperstown! Hopefully they’ll make it right before too long
Lou should be in. Votto absolutely will be in.
“Need to be enshrined well before Joey”…Joey Votto is not a Hall of Famer. That we’re even having this conversation shows how much the analytics nerds have watered down the MLB HOF. It’s becoming like the NBA/NFL where practically any well known player who’s had a really good season or two(or a couple viral videos)gets in the Hall of Fame. I Guess in a few years oe so we’ll all be talking about Pete Alonso, Justin Turner, Brandon Crawford and Anthony Rizzo as Hall of Fame locks.
Look, I’d have no problem with Lou being inducted, but let’s quit pretending that it’s some kind of miscarriage of justice or something. Very fine ballplayer, but he’s a borderline candidate. Again, don’t get me wrong – he was a terrific ballplayer. But he wasn’t a slam dunk, and that’s why he’s not in.
He’s a Hall of Faner, no question. I normally respect your opinion but not on this point.
Mentioned this before regarding Sweet Lou.. One of his 1st years was at Lakeland and he was like an adopted son to the local fans. Easy to see why.. Lou was one of the nicest folks could ever meet and my guess, he remained that way after becoming a star.
Lakeland manager (then) Jimmy Leyland had over a 1-2 yr period multiple future Tiger superstars on that A ball team. Whitaker, Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris. Fydrich was on that team in like 74. They were always tough.
Votto is absolutely, 100% sure to be enshrined in Cooperstown.
273 former major league players are in the HOF.
Votto has a higher OPS than 236 of them.
He has more HR than 203 of them.
He is 54th in OPS+ among all players, all time.
Only 36 HOF players have a higher OPS+.
ANY player that ranks that high in all those area is a slam dunk for induction in the HOF.
Pretty much says it all right there. Thanks for doing the research. Definitely a lock.
You’re counting the pitchers, Pads Fan
“54th in OPS+ among all players..only 36 HOF players”..Comparing Votto against anyone but his contemporaries of the last 20 or so years is a ridiculous endeavor. A lot of your dubious numbers come from a time when some of the best players in world weren’t even allowed to play at the highest level because of their skin color. You arrogant analytics nerds who think your after-the-fact hypothetical numbers are the holy grail of sports tickle me.
Thanks Eighty You are right. That included the pitchers which make up 84 HOF players.
Votto has a higher OPS than 154 of 189 HOF position players.
Votto has more HR than 119 of 189 HOF position players
Votto has a higher OPS+ than 152 of 189 HOF position players
One HOF player is tied in OPS+.
Just 36 HOF players have a higher OPS+
Joey Votto is a slam dunk HOF inductee.
MLBFAN, Say you don’t understand what OPS+ is without saying it. Are you really that ignorant of what the stats mean? Or are you just trolling? Playing the fool. Being the class idiot.
Those are just overall horrible examples.
““54th in OPS+ among all players..only 36 HOF players”..Comparing Votto against anyone but his contemporaries of the last 20 or so years is a ridiculous endeavor. ”
OPS+ literally adjusts for era. You clearly do not understand what you’re complaining about.
“What you’re complaining about”…And mathematical projections, predictions, estimates and forecasts are always 100% correct, right?…..People like you are the ones who fell hard for the Y2K scam. I’m guessing you probably still have hundreds of pounds of dried beans and rice in your basement. Am I right?…And why don’t you give us a detailed analysis of how your OPS+ formula adjusts for some of the best players not being allowed to play due to their skin color. I’m guessing that all you know is that a bigger number is better. Again, am I right?
Is being nice HOF criteria ?
mlb fan is clearly a friendless dullard scared by math and numbers. Guessing he’s in the 60+ age group and a lifelong blue collar worker. Which is great and necessary, but laughable when they are confronted with unfamiliar things like data and advanced mathematical formulas. Like, just admit you don’t understand. I have no problem admitting I don’t know anything about fixing cars, plumbing, etc.
Compare Lou Whitakers stats to other second baseman that are already in the HOF. Like Ryne Sandberg who easily got in. Borderline? 🙁
Whitaker had a career WAR of 75.1, which is seventh all time for second basemen. The six men in front of him — Rogers Hornsby, Eddie Collins, Napoleon Lajoie, Joe Morgan, Rod Carew, and Charlie Gehringer — are all Hall of Famers. Many behind him, including Ryne Sandberg, Roberto Alomar,, Craig Biggio, Nellie Fox, Joe Gordon, and Bobby Doerr are Hall of Famers. The average WAR for Hall of Fame second baseman is 69.4. Lou Whitaker is above average compared to all Hall of Fame second baseman and not only has he not been elected, he was a one-and-done with the BBWAA and was literally left off the ballot when they could have given him a second chance
Numbers are racist!
I think it’s wild to compare across eras and think he’s a HoF lock.
dshire – Name somebody not in the HOF who had a similar or better 9 year stretch than Joey’s 2009-2017 (not including ineligibles and juicers).
No need to debate it Fwver. Again, I never liked the guy, and as a Cubs fan, I certainly never likes the Reds. But even I am not shaded enough to think Votto isn’t worthy of the Hall.
@johnsilver 17 year career with a 144 OPS+, 64.5 bWAR/58.8 fWAR, 6x All-Star, 1 MVP. He’s a few points shy of Miggy, Craig Biggio, and Willie McCovey. Sits above Vladmir Guerrero, Yogi Berra, Mike Piazza, Dave Winfield, and CC Sabathia. I’ll bet the farm that he gets within the first two ballots.
In recent years, Fred McGriff, David Ortiz, and Edgar Martinez have been elected to the Hall.
All are DH/1b types. Ortiz and McGriff produced about 10 less WAR and a lower OPS+ then Votto
Martinez was slightly higher in OPS+ and WAR, yet had 50 fewer career homers in basically the same number of AB’s.
They got in and so will Votto. Maybe not first ballot, but he’ll get in.
Obviously there will always be guys who should be in but aren’t (Whitaker, etc.) Doesn’t mean you just stop putting guys in
Martinez’ slightly higher OPS+ was during an era with better hitters. We need to stop using that comparison when comparing two players from different eras.
It’s a relative metric. It’s okay to compare between eras.
You would win that bet. I’d say he’ll be in first vote.
Tony Perez is a Reds 1st baseman who is in the Hall and Votto’s career was better. People need to stop it with this idiotic take. It’s as if they don’t feel that OBP is a skill.
What do you think the + means in OPS+, its_happening??
It’s also the career numbers Canuckleball and also found it odd when martinez was enshrined. He was an outlier then.
The HOF commitee dragging it’s feet for like 30y and finally the old timers enshrining Jim Kaat put in the most negectedfairly recent player to me and opened the door to more pitchers who had been dominant, but hadn’t won 300g. Jack Morris being the biggy HOF since.
I just don’t see Votto getting it. He missed 400HR, sub 2500H. Played for to many lousy Reds teams to get many post season chances. Another guy, who was really good, but not good enough. I don’t see him getting the Orlando Cepeda.. Wait 20y for old timers.. Then maybe sneak in way.. But only way I see it.
No it’s not. Not when league average is part of the mathematical equation. You absolutely cannot and should not compare two different eras.
Scott Rolen is Joey Votto’s reason.
John I agree with you. But with the state of baseball and how people want to pretend WAR is the single greatest metric to measure talent, along with this idea that all walks are a net positive, Votto is getting in.
You are way off. He is a definite first ballot choice. Probably like 90%. Might want to learn more about baseball.
Will Clark for fffbbb on line 1. Same player essentially. Learn baseball? Wow, coming from a gurgling baby with gas (fffbbb?)
He’ll get in the HOF but probably by the 3rd or 4th year he’s eligible.
I 100% guarantee you he will be an HOFer.
Johnsilver I agree with the points you made. Unfortunately due to today’s current baseball climate and the mismeasurement of greatness, Votto will be in the Hall of Fame. Shouldn’t, but will.
“Shouldn’t, but will”…I literally just recently had an online discussion with a New Yorker who said Pete Alonso will one day be in Cooperstown. I disagreed, calling him mostly a “one trick pony”. As for Joey Votto, I’m not sure I could even call him a “one trick”, because I’m not 100% sure what his “one trick” would even be. Taking walks when his team needed runs knocked in?…Pete Alonso will likely have a better case than Votto, because his power numbers will likely compare more favorably(when he’s done playing)to other HOFs at 1b, which is still essentially a power position.
@mlb fan – I’ve got to admire you, because you’ve made a long-term commitment to saying stupid things repeatedly, and sticking by them.
Everyone is allowed an opinion, and you’re no different. But your opinion comes from the perspective of having absolutely no clue what you’re talking about, but choosing to talk anyway.
“I’ve got to admire you..saying stupid things”…Another one of the people who think they’re the smartest guy in the room. So “smart” that you can’t even make a point, except that everyone who doesn’t agree with you is “stupid”. I love the morons who think they’re smart but then 99% of their points are childish, juvenile insults. And by the way, I certainly don’t “admire” you, because your points are always insulting, ignorant and childish.
mlb fan your point here is underrated: “Taking walks when his team needed runs knocked in”.
Votto was a stickler for the strike zone that he absolutely took walks that were a net negative for his team. Despite his dominant run how many playoff appearances did his team have? In a weak NL Central no less.
The value of walks must be revisited. Not all walks are created equal.
You don’t know baseball if you think Votto reaching base was a “net negative.” Just an absurd take.
dshire when a team on defense wants to walk a player to set up a force play or a double play, that is one way to prove it is a net negative. When you have a runner on third base with less than two outs and you walk despite having good pitches to hit to drive in a run in a tight game, it’s a net negative.
Would you like more examples or will you admit you truly know nothing about the game of baseball?
itsh
“when a team on defense wants to walk a player to set up a force play or a double play, that is one way to prove it is a net negative”
False. Teams make poor decisions all the time. Or you think every manager decision is infallible?
Dodgerbro making bad decisions? What is your point? A decision to walk a guy by the defensive team does have a chance to backfire. However, they make that decision for run prevention. Until you can prove that it hurts more than it works, my point stands. On top of that, Votto’s teams did close to nothing during his run in Cincy and he had plenty of help to reach the playoffs in that weak division.
Turn that false into truth 🙂
itsh
“Until you can prove that it hurts more than it works, my point stands.”
No
“I’m right unless you prove me wrong” is not how anything works.
First Base (12th):
64.5 career WAR | 46.9 7yr-peak WAR | 55.7 JAWS | 5.1 WAR/162
Average HOF 1B (out of 25):
64.8 career WAR | 42.0 7yr-peak WAR | 53.4 JAWS | 4.8 WAR/162
Absolute, certain HOF player.
Same reason why Harold Raines made it in. The HOF is politically inclined now. Papi making it in even though he got popped for roids twice, all while other guys who were guilty will be kept out is just as bad. Cooperstown is a joke.
How was Papi popped for roids twice?
Big Papi never got busted for steroids. He tested positive once when there was no penalty for it. He was tested 10 times per year for the rest of his career and never tested positive again. His stats got better after testing and penalties were put in place.
So can the hate when you don’t know WTF you are talking about.
Freak – I have always believed there’s a good chance Papi used at some point in his career, but you comparing him to Manny is absurd.
Manny got caught breaking the rules twice and was suspended twice.
Ortiz never got caught breaking the PED rules and was never disciplined for PED’s.
Hopefully you’re a Yankee fan, that would explain at least some of your Ortiz-hate.
Except Joey Votto is the exact opposite of Harold Baines. Baines was a long term hit compiler. Votto is the prototypical new school guy where walks and OBP is more important than just hits. To be honest, I have no problem with either player being in the Hall because the hall is a museum to tell the history of baseball, not a pantheon of the gods. Harold Baines was a big part of 1980s baseball and Joey Votto was a big part of 2010s baseball. Both deserve recognition for that.
freak, you are right about Baines. That was one of the most absurd selections to the Hall ever. The Papi comment is just general spite and jealousy towards Boston (and I’m not even from there). People love to bash Ortiz and yet glorify blatant cheaters like Bonds and A-Rod, not to mention Pudge Rodriguez and Beltre.
Maybe you tuned out from 2010-2018, but Votto’s run there was otherworldly. Led the entire league in OBP for 7 (!!) of those seasons.
Labelling Votto just “decent” isn’t a reflection of Votto – it’s a reflection of you.
Todd Helton just made the HOF. If Helton is in, Votto is a lock.
Todd Helton was at least one tier better than Votto. And don’t give me the Coors Field crap because Helton’s road OPS was better than the total OPS of Roberto Clemente, Eddie Murray, Jim Rice, Carl Yastrzemski, and many others. If you factored in Coors as well, Helton was top 20 all time when he retired.
I have no problem with Votto getting in, but there is no need to denigrate Helton to do it.
He will be in the HOF despite your misguided view.
If that’s to me, LordD99, then ok. So be it. I’m not rooting against Votto getting in per se, just saying I would vote for others first. It’s just an opinion, and I couldn’t care less if I’m wrong and he’s inducted first ballot and unanimous. I’ll be the first to congratulate him. 2200 hits is low, especially for 17 seasons. Homers and Ribbies are also low. OPS+ is nice, but if you don’t have the counting stats then certain voters will be a harder sell. Cheers bub
Gwynning, I was responding to John Silver. I get there are those who don’t think he’s Hall worthy, but I’m confident that he will be elected. I won’t guess on which ballot!
Gwynn – Usually you have logical stances, so I’m surprised at your comments here.
Penalizing the guy for low hits because he walked so much? (led the league in walks 5 times)
RBI is one of the most useless offensive stats around, and that’s coming from a guy who has often railed against analytics. The one true indicator of offensive clutchness is RISP and for his career with RISP he batted .321 with a 1.042 OPS …. that is as elite as it gets!
I know the game has changed with respect to homeruns as some people (obviously you) value them more, but if he sacrificed lets say 50 homeruns to maintain that .409 career OBP then he was helping his team a lot more with that choice of approach. if you talk to high OBP hitters such as Ty Cobb and Wade Boggs, each always insisted they could hit a lot more homeruns but chose not to because they didn’t want to sacrifice BA/OBP.
Of course I respect your opinion, but the reasons you gave to justify it simply don’t seem logical.
Fait enough FPG, just trying to convey my thoughts through the mindset of an old-school voter. I strongly suspect I’m in the minority here, and that’s fine, but I have a hard time seeing Votto’s immediate candidacy. I’m open minded enough to admit I could be swayed, and y’all are well on the way.
@Gwynning No doubt Whitaker belongs in the HOF. Hopefully, the HOF committee gets him in.
Walks aren’t always a net positive. Unless you hit like Bonds, Pujols, Miggy, guys who dominated with the bat. Votto did not.
its – I get what you’re saying about walks, some hitters such as JD Drew always focused on drawing walks and refused to swing at pitches outside the strike zone – Casas is the same way. For an extreme opposite, Devers has hammered some homeruns that were way out of the strike zone. It’s all about context, each PA is a different situation.
But to say Votto didn’t dominate for a 9-year period is absurd. He’s got the numbers, such as BA with RISP and of course the .980 OPS during the 9-year period.
Not even Ohtani (.933 OPS) or Mookie (.913 from 2016-2024) or Soto (.960 OPS) has matched Votto’s production during that period.
Never felt Votto dominated. He was very good, but not dominant. Questionable gold glove win (solid but not spectacular defensively).
That being said, I will admit my personal bar for the Hall of Fame is high. There are a lot of players that should not be in but are. To me, Don Mattingly’s prime was better than Votto’s, and the numbers don’t necessarily reflect that. I wouldn’t put Donny Baseball in.
That is a ridiculous take. I don’t like the Reds, and never cared for him personally, but despite that, even I’d be shocked if he wasn’t elected to the HoF. He earned it.
Dang that really offended you lol
Totally agree. I’ll get hate for this but he was the type of player who with runners in scoring position would prefer to battle the pitch and own the strike zone to get a walk before going to the plate with the mentality to put the ball in play and drive in the runs. That’s not a hall of famer.
.409 career OBP in 17 seasons. 42nd all time.
.920 OPS. 53rd all time.
Guy is a lock for the HOF. Stop the lunacy.
He’ll probably get into the HOF, but not first ballot. The Pat On The Head Generation will put another very good player in. The Hall is almost meaningless now.
Yes, I mean they never used to let people like Hack Wilson into the HOF or anything…
Hack Wilson had better stats than 95% of the “superstars” now. The old players didn’t let blisters or hangnails keep them from playing.
Hack Wilson had the same exact OPS+ as Votto.
Hack Wilson career is seven seasons. If not for his 191 rbi season honestly he’s not in. He was beyond great durning those years but hardly a first ballot type
Hack Wilson ruined his career due to alcoholism. That sounds worse than missing a few innings for blisters—which Nolan Ryan famously suffered from early in his career. I guess Nolan Ryan was a wimp.
He also has heavily inflated stats from playing in the 1920s, had a short career, and wasn’t good with the glove.
He was very good. Great even.
I didn’t realize boomers we’re known as The Pat On The Head Generation but it makes sense
Seriously? Have you seen the stats of some of the guys inducted in the 1950s and 1960s? There are lots of guys that wouldn’t even qualify as very good put in back then. I just don’t see how Scott Rolen or Harold Baines being honored for their careers of entertaining us qualifies as so reprehensible for some people.
Hopefully we’ll see him in the Reds dugout first. They’re desperate for someone who can teach these kids to swing at strikes, and do their posing on breaking balls 2 feet out of the zone.
HOF? Small market black ball. Would definitely be an easier sell if he played in a big market.
Respect, from a Brewers fan. He was the last standing of the great trio of NL Central 1st baseman (Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Votto). Wish him a happy retirement.
King – Speaking of the Brewers, did you know former Brewer Eduardo Rodriguez is tied for the highest career OPS in MLB history.
How about that!
He went 7-0 in 1975. How ’bout dat!
Only right he played his MLB career with one team. Votto will be a hall of famer.
MFF
Would have been just as right if he had played for multiple teams.
I mean, he wanted to, so why would you think it was wrong?
Guys that played for one get a little extra boost.
Freddie – Absolutely! He won MVP, GG, ROY-runnerup, finished in MVP Top 7 six times, and during a 9-year stretch he had a .980 OPS.
Mercenary: Right for whom, you?
BB, this really feels like you’re just trying to be argumentative for argument’s sake. I’m sure you’re familiar with the appeal of a player playing for just one team in their entire career. If you’re arguing whether the word “right” is the most fitting descriptor, you’re just being pedantic.
No, I just think it’s an overrated thing. My opinion.
I always thought Votto was a slug as a person. I still remember Rizzo walking up to the whole Reds bench and asking for someone to come out after one of Garrett’s bean ball stunts and Votto the captain sitting in the dugout on his hands. But nobody can deny his talent. He should be a HOFer. Maybe not a first ballot guy but he should get in before the veterans vote. I don’t like him as a person, But as a baseball player I give him his props.
GBS
“I’m sure you’re familiar with the appeal of a player playing for just one team in their entire career.”
What’s that appeal?
It obviously didn’t mean that much to Votto since he signed with the Jays.
DB,
To the fans of the player’s one team. I’m not saying it’s better or more pure or righteous or anything, but for some fans it’s a consistent connection they enjoy.
DodgersBro: But loyalty is a two-way street. He signed with the Blue Jays at least partly because the Reds didn’t offer him a contract.
Sub 5 Second 40 or 41 or whatever lame name you’re using today, I have told you time and time again that it’s better for you to keep your mouth shut and give the impression that you’re stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.
Now let that be a lesson to you. I don’t have the time or crayons to make it any simpler for you to understand.
Run along now. Your village called and they want you back on idiot duty. Don’t be late.
41
Muted
Uniform in the bin Joey.
Go be with the fam already and thanks for everything…
Cooperstown inbound
IF Steve Garvey couldn’t get in I dont see why votto should.
just incase one brings up fielding:
Votto 1GG vs Garvey 4 GG
The whole “this guy shouldn’t get in because that guy didn’t get in” is old and tired.
In a lot of cases, they are two whole different groups of voters, in different eras, so that comparison is moot anyway.
In any case, it usually shows whatever bias you have. Even the writers have them. Guys who were not too friendly with the press usually get a lot fewer votes.
Such is life.
Garvey .775 OPS. 117 OPS+ 272 HR
Votto .920 OPS 144 OPS+ 356 HR
Not mentioning WAR because the math illiterate don’t like it.
“Garvey 4 GG”…Both Steve Garvey and Keith Hernandez(Don Mattingly too)have a much better case for the Hall than does Votto in my opinion. I guess Tik Tock videos must really boost your case in the Votto candidacy.
GG is a popularity contest. Palmiero got one while playing 19 games at 1B and all the rest at DH. Bonds got one while being literally the worst defensive LF in baseball.
I can stomach only so much of your playing the fool. Trolling is not a worthwhile choice in life. Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
Not a surprise given how he was playing. Clearly he wanted to be in Toronto last weekend but there was just no way he was playable.
Class act thru and thru and one of the great personalities of the game. He will be missed.
Congrats on a very good career. Probably should be in the HOF.
Hopefully the Blue Jays will put together a nice retirement video for him.
Joking aside, always an interesting quirk when B-ref page has a player’s photo (Votto for one) in a uniform they were signed to for a bit but never really played in.
… how about a Jays’ cap in the HOF?
Got to see him in spring training and with the Low A team in Dunedin. There were some flashes of his heyday, but no one escapes Father Time.
Congrats to him on a great career. 17 years in MLB is pretty rare. 17 years with one team even more so.
Thank you Joey. You are missed here in Cincinnati.
Too bad you and your cat could only give him one decent team over all those years 🙁
I hope he is the hitting coach in Cincy tomorrow.
Double duty!
How about this one: higher career OPS than Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Schmidt, Miguel Cabrera, and Willie Stargell,
I believe you’re owed $5.
YBC – Me too, I pointed out his .980 OPS over a 9-year period and his GG and numerous Top 7 MVP votes.
I won’t keep the $5 though, I’ll use it to donate a book on baseball to him.
Hell of a career. Will be a beast in whichever broadcast booth he ends up in. Cerebral and hilarious guy.
Hope Joey makes it back to Cincinnati in some capacity. A whole lot better announcer than Barry Larkin. Love the man, but have to speak the truth.
Thanks for all the great years, Joey. Wish we could have won the big one for you.
This one (always) belongs to the Reds
🙂
He did an amazing job making it back to majors last season ! Absolute work horse !
Took long enough
Piro
This will be quicker
Muted, troll
Happy retirement Joey. No shot he makes the hall of fame though, not if will Clark never even got 5% of the vote. Though I do think both belong in.
What? I guarantee he will be an HOFer. And he has better numbers than Will Clark clearly. Some people have no idea what a HOFer looks like until they’re actually in Cooperstown.
Better numbers in more games. Very similar careers. Votto has an mvp, will was second in one, but Will also has an LCS mvp.
Happy retirement Joey. Baseball’s a little less fun and interesting without you in it.
Much respect to Jowy Votto. I remember in a 3 game series at Wrigley he hit like 6 homeruns and something like 8 HRs in 13 AB or something like that.
I hope he joins espn broadcast. Replace Eduardo Perez or David Cone. Or honestly have him replace John Smoltz in the world series.
Hope he enjoys his retirement and in 5 years help be a first ballot HOFer.
He’s one of my favorite baseball people of all time.
Why now? Why not 20 years ago?
I’d like to see Votto on the post season broadcast team. That would be fun…
Good player. Border liblne HOF but I think he will get in eventually.
Cincy should sign him and give him a few weeks at home to finish his career.
For sure. The season is a wash anyway. This will undo the wrong they did by not resigning him this off-season.
Since you don’t understand the term let me spell it out for you. Re-tired 1.having left one’s job and ceased to work. Ahahaha!
Votto should sign a one-day deal with the Reds and have a special day either this season or at the beginning of 2025 so he can retire a Red. I think he will eventually make the Hall of Fame, just my two cents.
Either first ballot or 2nd or 3rd year after, his career stats are just like Carl Yastrzemski
Cincy can’t sign Votto to a 1-day contract without having to move players off the 26-man and 40-man rosters.
I was hoping to see Joey Votto in a Toronto Blue Jays MLB uniform and game. Great ball player.
By coincidence, the Reds were finishing a series in Toronto on the day Votto announced his retirement.
Blue jays legend Joey Votto
Legend. Tip of the cap.
You can just admit you don’t understand math and statistics rather than complaining about “computer stats”
Reds fans, start making your reservations for his induction in Cooperstown in 2030 now.
Question, has there been any other Canadian inductees into the Baseball HOF?
Laaaary Walker.
I was so happy Larry Walker got in the Hall of Fame. One of the best hitters, just loved watching the Rockies play to watch him play.
Fergie Jenkins was the first. Pads fan is allergic to research.
That’s right. Thanks. Forgot about Larry Walker.
The good thing here is Votto retires as a Red as it should be. Great career and a team icon. Congrats Joey
HOFer? I’m on the fence. The stats say yes, but he wasn’t a jump off the page player for me.
How? The eye test was much stronger than his actual stats imo. Generationally good plate discipline.
Jay – He was buried on bad teams his entire career, only 11 career postseason games and never past the LDS. That’s why he doesn’t jump off the page. Just imagine if he had some protection around him.
Respect.
Farethewell Joey. You got to live the dream!!!
Wish he’d gotten a few games in with Toronto.
Baseball HOF should cull the herd by about 25-30 players IMO.
The Hall should actually increase the herd by about 20 players.
So everything is based on a superficial playoff scenario? Ever since 2010, the teams that don’t make the playoffs just simply are terrible! And while we are comparing HOF worthiness, why the hell is Papi in the Hall of Fame when Manny has been blackballed? They were both popped at the same time, not once, but twice, for roids.
Do you have evidence that Papi ever used PEDs?
Urine testing for PEDs with penalties for violations began in 2004.
Big Papi tested positive in the survey testing in 2003, but never tested positive from that time on. He was never suspended.
Ramirez tested positive and was suspended in 2009 and then again in 2011.
Manny was a moron and kept cheating even after he got caught.
He could really give you a professional at bat. There, you owe me $5.
The interesting thing is that his hitting stats are quite similar to Larry Walker, Votto has bit more OBP with a little less power. With Votto most likely being the 2nd Canadian after Walker elected to the HOF, I thought it was kind of fun comparison.
He’s definitely worthy of enshrinement in my opinion. Being one of the 5 best players in MLB for a number of years(and the accolades that accompany that) seal the deal for me.
Walker also spent the bulk of his career playing in Coors Field.
In the decade of the 10s if you were starting a team and had to pick a 1st baseman to start a team and Miggy was already picked Joey Votto is next up
This announcement is about six months too late. He never should have tried to play this year as it tarnishes a great career. He’s borderline HOFer but certainly qualifies for the Hall of Very Good. Congrats on your overdue retirement, Mr Votto, enjoy!
273 former major league players are in the HOF.
Votto has a higher OPS than 236 of them.
He has more HR than 203 of them.
He is 54th in OPS+ among all players, all time.
Only 36 HOF players have a higher OPS+.
ANY player that ranks that high in all those area is a slam dunk for induction in the HOF.
I guess it’s not special that he had better batting stats than those of the 273 that were pitchers
Why are you being a total jerk?
Only 84 pitchers are in the HOF and Joey Votto is a slam dunk HOF inductee.
Votto has a higher OPS than 154 of 189 HOF position players.
Votto has more HR than 119 of 189 HOF position players
Votto has a higher OPS+ than 152 of 189 HOF position players
One HOF player is tied in OPS+.
Just 36 HOF players have a higher OPS+
Put down the bottle, grow up, and get a life.
PF
“Votto has a higher OPS than 154 of 189 HOF position players.
Votto has more HR than 119 of 189 HOF position players
Votto has a higher OPS+ than 152 of 189 HOF position players
One HOF player is tied in OPS+.
Just 36 HOF players have a higher OPS+”
He was a first baseman. Just looking at his offense while ignoring his lack of defensive contributions is…(I’ll be nice)…incomplete
It’s ok Joey. Erm I mean Pads Fans. It’ll be ok.
DoyersBruh, Pay attention. Utah was asking for OFFENSE without advanced metrics.
If you want to see Votto’s defense, you know you CAN look that stuff up. Its not even hard.
On defense he has a +54 DRS at 1B. Exceptionally good. Since Baseball Info Systems started releasing that statistic to the public in 2002, HOF Todd Helton had a +33 DRS but he played 5 seasons before DRS. His total would undoubtedly be higher than Votto if th stat had been available a few yrs earlier. No one else with other HOF worthy stats is above Votto on that list.
fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&qua…
Here is a list of defense from HOF 1B that played from 1953 on. baseball-reference.com/leaders/tz_runs_total_1b_ca… You tell US how many HOF 1B are above Votto on that list.
Bottom line? Votto was VERY good on defense.
As for the stats HOF voters are going to be weighing most, here you go, even though its already been posted elsewhere in this thread.
First Base (12th among 1B all time):
64.5 career WAR | 46.9 7yr-peak WAR | 55.7 JAWS | 5.1 WAR/162
Average HOF 1B (out of 25):
64.8 career WAR | 42.0 7yr-peak WAR | 53.4 JAWS | 4.8 WAR/162
baseball-reference.com/players/v/vottojo01.shtml and scroll down to Hall Of Fame Stats
or go to this list
baseball-reference.com/leaders/jaws_1B.shtml
Would you like me to do any more of YOUR homework for you?
You were trying to be a jerk and you know it, so don’t try to lie about it. Try reading the other comments in the thread before commenting yourself and you won’t look like a total and complete jerk AND a moron at the same time.
Its ok Ryan, erm I mean Manfred the Putz.
If you are going to even address me, come with stats and facts or STFU. I have no time for trolls.
PF
“DoyersBruh, Pay attention”
Muted
Oh, pobrecita. DoyersBruh didn’t like that I called her out for being a lazy jerk so she muted me. I am so sad.
Don’t mute back and just start liking their comments and your name still shows in their notification… 2 can be petty
Hall of fame lock.
Bananaball!!!!!
Please. The bananas are nothing more than a traveling broadway show and should take that tired act to North Korea
Ok Karen 🙂 I get that you’re a 30’s something, angry, internet, derider of all things 🙂
Want to hear a shocker? This form of baseball is older than your dad. So step back, take your hat off, pull that giant stick out, and try to enjoy life.
I got a REAL shocker for you? I remember seeing this group of men playing bananaball..except it was basketball and it was 1972..oh wait, everyone knows who the Globtrotters are…..
Stop being a clown*
That’s sad. I think he had more left in the tank though.
I’m both overjoyed that he didn’t wear a jays jersey and sad that he didn’t wear a jays jersey. As a reds fan he was one of the best players I’ve seen. If Helton is hall worthy so is votto.
Everybody arguing whether he should be in the HOF when none of us have a voice in the matter. The man gets my respect because he never once consumed that god awful Skyline Chili.
I thought he already had retired. That’s 100% an on me thing, not a “he hasn’t really played for years” knock on him. The Mandela effect combined with world series fan hangover I guess. Once I read the article clearly remembered him signing with Jays and thinking he would come up sometime this year which made it an even weirder feeling.
He was great and one of the really likeable players out there. Happy retirement and interested to see if he goes into broadcasting or radio as he could be quite humorous and witty in interviews.
Votto is a personable guy, really interesting to listen to and obviously spent a lot time thinking about his craft and how to go about it. Now many have suggested he should go into broadcasting, which I think would be great. However according to BREF, Votto has earned $260 million in his career(and of course he’s only 40 years old) so I would imagine Joey will do whatever the heck he wants. He seems like a guy who really likes baseball(not all players do) so I could definitely see him doing some public work just for some fun if he’s looking for something to do. I’ve no idea what his personal interests are, however he comes across as quite a deep thinker so I don’t imagine he lacks for ideas on how to spend his time.
Looking forward to your HOF acceptance speech. Great career!
Joey Votto=elite
Always hated you Joey, because you always crushed my favorite teams.
I don’t think you are going to enjoy a long retirement because either some team is going to bring you in to coach or you will end up in the booth broadcasting the game we all love.
See you in Cooperstown in 5 years.
I love Joey Votto! As a Reds fan, one of my favorite players and sports personalities!
from 2010-2017 votto’s average ops+ was 163
that’s a first-ballot hall of famer
And only averaged only 25 homers and 80 rbi during that stretch.
That’s not a hall of famer.
Why aren’t the blue jays letting him play a final game in his home country? They are eliminated anyway
Toronto isn’t mathematically eliminated yet, plus they don’t want to play musical chairs with the rosters just for one player who’s retiring.
He had a good career but he shouldn’t be in the HOF.
A first baseman with less than 400 homers.
Utah
“350 hr, .294 career avg is great but not HOF worthy. no WS rings or appearances and 0 postseason HRs.
5 bucks says every response i receive will be sabermetrics. his war, his ops+++, or whatever the f the new computer stats you boys use these days.”
Did you just pull these numbers off the top of your head, or did you use a GASP computer to get them?
It was the second – in the form of a laptop, desktop, phone or tablet I’m sure.
This is good for baseball.. hated this guys attitude
They need to get a Hall of Really Good to house all these really good players but not HOFers. Honestly, there are probably only about 15-20 guys who belong in the actual HOF. The writers have just flooded the HOF to the point it doesn’t represent the best of the best.
I don’t disagree at all with this.
Thank you for the article. I did not know he was a minor leaguer for 5 years. Great career. Do not know if HOF! I do agree that at times he was more obsessed with getting on base then knocking in runs. When You bat 3rd in order your job is to drive in runs, not draw walks. He was great at what he did. Congratulations on great career!
Reading through these comments, it is easy to separate the stat boys from those who actually watch the game and know baseball.
Good luck Joey!You would have looked good in a Oriole uniform!
Crazy Votto stat, has faced over 36,000 pitches, over 6,00o plate appearances, ONLY FOULED OUT TWICE in his entire career. amazing.
And those two foul outs came very recently.
No way
If Votto played in pinstripes this conversation would be completely different. He’s already have a statue and would be a 100% lock for the HOF. But Cincinnati? Now it’s a debate.
That’s a fair point. That would also mean that he would have a ’09 WS ring, playoffs performances, and more ASG appearances. It also helps that he’s been well-liked in the game. He’s in regardless imo.
I can see Votto becoming an excellent coach or an excellent broadcaster, whichever he decides to pursue.
Votto should have won Roy too
My favorite Mexican baseball player 🙁
Is Votto the first player to have his last appearance in the majors end on an ejection from the game?
I was hoping he would sign a one day contract and play the last home game in Cincy.
When discussing Votto’s HoF cred, they only discuss offensive metrics. Yes, he collected a lot of offensive stats. He never won a silver slugger or batting title and only has one gold glove. His defensive range to his right was poor and got worse with the knee injury. Overall, he was not an HoF defensive 1B. If you are looking solely at offensive numbers, you have to ask if he was dominant enough to get in on offense alone. (How would he be looked at as a DH considering he played half his games at GABP?) The answer is he is not a HoF player.
For a dedicated baseball page, the amount of braindead comments saying Votto isn’t a hall of famer is laughable. This guy has so much black ink on Bref. 42nd all time in OBP over 400 (.409) in 17 seasons. Absolute lock and a half. And I’m saying this as a Cubs fan.
Good production for first base over the past 15+ years but bad timing with several others playing same position. I’m on the fence for him being HOF’er. Could get in but not right away.
According to all the people that have spoke about it on MLB Network and other sports TV yesterday and today, Votto is a HOF 1B. Going to put all the reasons that I have mentioned elsewhere on ONE post here.
Offense without WAR or advanced metrics
Votto’s .920 OPS is higher than 154 of 189 HOF position players.
He would rank 13th on a list of HOF 1B.
Votto’s 356 HR is more than 119 of 189 HOF position players
He would rank 16th on a list of HOF 1B
Votto’s 144 OPS+ is higher than 152 of 189 HOF position players
Just 36 HOF position players have a higher OPS+
One HOF player is tied in OPS+.
He would rank 14th on a list of HOF 1B
(OPS+ is NOT an advanced metric, it is simply park adjusted and compares the individual to the players that were in MLB during that time frame)
At First Base on defense
Votto has a +54 DRS at 1B. That is exceptionally good. Baseball Info Systems started releasing that statistic to the public in 2002 and since then the only player with HOF stats close to Votto was Todd Helton and he had a +33 DRS. Helton played 5 seasons before DRS so his total would undoubtedly be higher than Votto if the stat had been available a few years earlier. No one else with HOF worthy stats is above Votto on that list.
fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&qua…
UZR was also created in 2002, so you can sort or that on that link above if you like
Here is a list of Total Zone Runs defensive metric from HOF 1B that played from 1953 on. baseball-reference.com/leaders/tz_runs_total_1b_ca… Take a look and see how many HOF 1B are above Votto on that list.
Bottom line? Votto was VERY good on defense as compared to the 25 1B in the HOF today.
As for the stats BBWAA Hall of Fame voters are going to be weighing most:
First Base (12th):
64.5 career WAR | 46.9 7yr-peak WAR | 55.7 JAWS | 5.1 WAR/162
Average HOF 1B (out of 25):
64.8 career WAR | 42.0 7yr-peak WAR | 53.4 JAWS | 4.8 WAR/162
baseball-reference.com/players/v/vottojo01.shtml
then scroll down to Hall Of Fame Stats
or go to this list
baseball-reference.com/leaders/jaws_1B.shtml
On the link above you can sort by pretty much any stat that you want to compare to other 1B. The letter HOF are next to the players name so you can easily see who is in the HOF currently.
The bottom line is no matter how you look at the stats, Offense or defense, Votto is a HOF player.
Salude.’.
He’s very compatible with Lance berkman and Will Clark imo so what ever you get out of that and will played in candlestick Park not a hr hitting park too
Hats off to Joey Votto. He was a great hitter for the Reds for years and always a class act off the field. Enjoy retirement, but come back as a coach somewhere.
Across his entire career Votto was virtually identical to Pujols as a hitter. BA/OBP/OPS and others are all virtually identical, only hundredths of a point different. The main difference is that Pujols played 3000 games and Votto only 2000. Unsurprisingly, Votto’s counting stats are all about 2/3 of Pujols.