Report Says that Joey Votto will Likely Start Season at Triple-A For Toronto Blue Jays
After signing a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays this week, it appears as if Joey Votto is likely ticketed to start the season in Triple-A.
Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today:
It was a bit surprising that Joey Votto signed a minor-league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays considering he has always downplayed the idea of playing for his hometown team. He’s expected to open the season at Buffalo, the Blue Jays’ Triple-A team. The Blue Jays currently don’t have a natural opening with Vladimir Guerrero at first base and Justin Turner as the everyday DH. He’ll earn a prorated $2 million once he’s called up and likely be used as a pinch-hitter and spot starter at first or DH.
Earlier in the offseason, we speculated that Votto would be a good fit for the Blue Jays, but that changed once they signed Turner. After losing Brandon Belt in free agency (though he's still unsigned), the team did have room for another left-handed bat off the bench, so perhaps Votto can fill that role.
It makes sense to see him start the year in the minors given that he's a few weeks behind in his spring training, so hopefully he can get going quick and join the Blue Jays just a few weeks into the season.
A lifetime .294 hitter, Votto is one of the more accomplished players of the last 20 years. He's got a .409 on-base percentage lifetime and has hit 356 career home runs. He also owns a pristine resume with six All-Star appearances, a Gold Glove and an MVP award.
He's led the league in on-base percentage in seven separate seasons.
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