Could This be Joey Votto’s Last Homestand?
Photo from @Reds on X.
Dayton, Oh (PSF)- On September 4, 2007, Joey Votto made his Major League debut for the Cincinnati Reds. 16 years later Votto finds himself in the middle of a heated playoff race with 10 games left, in what could be his last season.
The 40-year-old six-time All-Star, one-time MVP, and one-time Gold Glove award winner has become a Cincinnati legend. With only five home games left, reality is starting to set in for Reds fans. As the weekend approaches everyone in the baseball world, but specifically every Reds fan will be wondering if they will ever see Votto in a Great American Ballpark ever again. Making it all the more important to pack GABP for five more games.
Votto is finishing up year ten of an eleven-year contract. The Reds have a club option at the end of this season to decide if they want to bring him back for one more season at a 20-million-dollar salary.
Votto has done more for this city in the last 30 years than any other Cincinnati athlete, with the exception of Joe Burrow taking the Bengals to the Super Bowl. Votto, a future Hall of Famer deserves a proper retirement tour like Albert Pujols got, but will the Reds be able to bring him back with a cheaper contract to make this happen.
As Cincinnati continues to develop young talent, it has become clear that the team is ready to move on from Votto. If Votto is willing to accept a bench role next season with a seven million contract, by all means bring him back.
Votto will not only be missed by Reds fans if he decides to hang it up this year, but all of baseball due to his dazzling personality. He has consistently been one of the best personalities in the entire baseball world, Anytime he gets to step in front of a microphone, watch out. You just never know what Votto will say, but you can bet this will be a laugh filled segment.
Photo from Aaron Doster, AP.
Following the team’s 7-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday, reporters brought the idea of this being his last homestand to Votto’s attention, to which he took nearly two minutes responding to. Saying, “I don’t think about that. I’ve had moments where it’s crossed my mind, and you know the nice thing about playing competitive ball is you’re thinking about today’s game.”
Votto went on to say that it’s nice to be so caught up in the competition of the game because it doesn’t let him focus on this outside noise. He also talked about his rehab processes over the last two years and trying to find a new normal. Votto finished up by saying he is having a lot of fun playing meaningful baseball games, with fun teammates.
During this press conference, Votto also mentioned that he has no control over whether or not this is his last homestand, which he immediately retracted. The way this started sure sounded like he is looking to come back for another season, but only time will tell for sure.
Regardless of what the future holds for Votto, he will always be loved in Cincinnati. Not many players spend their entire career in one city, despite lack of success. Votto brought energy and leadership to a team that needed it the most. While Votto may not be on a championship team, he will have certainly contributed to those efforts, with everything he has taught these players.