Cincinnati Reds Legend, Free Agent Joey Votto Makes Threat If No Team Signs Him

Joey Votto, coming off 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, said he would stop returning his shopping carts if he had to wait around in free agency any longer.

Longtime Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto hit free agency for the first time in his career this winter, but his phone doesn't appear to be ringing off the hook.

It has gotten to the point where the 40-year-old slugger has resorted to making threats on his Instagram story. On Tuesday, he went as far as declaring his intentions to become a menace to society if he continues to go unsigned.

“I’m sick of this,” Votto said. “If someone doesn’t sign me, I’m not gonna put my shopping carts away.”

In the second part of the video, Votto put his money where his mouth was, lazily propelling a shopping cart towards the return area in the parking lot.

“Carts are a lot like golf balls,” Votto said “You just want to get them close to the hole.”

Votto has long built up a reputation as one of baseball's most notable deadpan jokesters, and that clearly hasn't changed this offseason. When Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in January, Votto shared a story about the time he told Mauer – who is five months his senior – that he admired him growing up.

From the time he made his big league debut in 2007 through the 2023 season, Votto racked up 2,135 hits, 356 home runs, 1,144 RBI and a 64.4 WAR. The six-time All-Star and former NL MVP is a .294 hitter in his career.

It remains to be seen if Votto will get the chance to add to those totals, although there have been reports throughout the offseason that multiple teams are interested in signing him.

The Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers have all been tied to Votto at one point this winter. Even return to the Reds remains in the cards, albeit in a non-playing capacity.

Votto just completed the final season of his 10-year, $225 million contract with Cincinnati, batting .202 with 14 home runs, 38 RBI, a .747 OPS and a -0.1 WAR in 65 games.

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.

Check out more Cincinnati Reds coverage at Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Inside the Reds.