Votto earns non-roster invite to spring training

Joey Votto is coming home — or at least will have a chance of extending his career with the team he grew up watching as a Toronto kid.

The Etobicoke, Ont., born and raised veteran superstar has agreed to a non-roster invitation with the Blue Jays, creating an opportunity for the 40-year-old to continue his brilliant career.

A source confirmed the deal with the Toronto Sun, adding that it is pending Votto passing a physical.

Votto has been a free agent since the end of the 2023 season when the Cincinnati Reds declined a $20-million US option for the coming season.

Votto spent 17 years with the Reds, where he was a sixtime all star, but with baseball’s opening day less than three weeks away, Votto has an opportunity to work his way back into the big leagues.

The news was a first reported by ESPN’S Buster Olney and acknowledged in an X post by Votto himself shortly after.

“I am excited about the opportunity to work my way back to the Major Leagues,” Votto posted. “It’s even sweeter to attempt this while wearing the uniform of my hometown team, the Toronto Blue Jays.”

Where Votto fits with the Jays — if anywhere — remains to be seen. But a veteran bat can never be a bad thing for a team in need of some offence.

With no guarantees of making the team, the Jays will be afforded the opportunity to see what Votto still has offensively and to see if he’s worth keeping around as a bench bat.

Votto has long been revered by Canadian baseball fans, albeit from afar as he spent the entirety of his storied career thus far in the National League.

Votto figures to compete with another free agent invitee to camp, Daniel Vogelbach, for a rooster spot.