Cincinnati Reds Legend Joey Votto Recreates Iconic Meme as Free Agency Drags On

Joey Votto channeled his inner “Sad Keanu” in a photo he shared Tuesday, as the longtime Cincinatti Reds slugger is still waiting for a team to offer him a deal.

With Joey Votto’s free agency stretching well into March, the long wait seems to be getting to the legendary Cincinnati Reds slugger.

In his latest social media stunt, Votto posted a picture of himself alone on a park bench eating a sandwich. It was a recreation of the viral “Sad Keanu” meme from 2010, which featured star actor Keanu Reeves in the same outfit and pose.

Votto naturally put his own twist on it, leaning a baseball bat against the bench beside him. The 40-year-old first baseman also added the caption “missing ball.”

Votto has long built up a reputation as one of baseball's most notable deadpan jokesters, and that clearly hasn't changed this offseason. Just last week, Votto threatened to stop putting his shopping carts back if nobody signed him.

From the time he made his big league debut in 2007 through the 2023 season, Votto has 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, since he confirmed on The Dan Patrick Show last week that his only offers thus far have come from media companies rather than MLB teams.

The Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers have all been tied to Votto at one point this winter, although that was before Milwaukee signed Rhys Hoskins and Toronto signed Justin Turner. A 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.

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