Joey Votto contract details: Canadian slugger agrees to non-roster invite with Blue Jays

Edward Sutelan

Joey Votto contract details: Canadian slugger agrees to non-roster invite with Blue Jays image

The prodigal son is coming home.

Joey Votto has agreed to a non-roster invite with the Blue Jays, ESPN's Buster Olney reported Friday. The deal comes two days after Votto posted a sad meme of him waiting to be signed.

Votto confirmed the signing on X (formerly Twitter).

"I am excited about the opportunity to work my way back to the Major Leagues," Votto said in a post on X. "It’s even sweeter to attempt this while wearing the uniform of my hometown team, the Toronto Blue Jays."

Votto, a likely future Hall of Fame first baseman, spent all 17 of his MLB seasons with the Reds before the team declined his option for 2024. He is a native of Toronto, having been raised in Etobicoke, and attended the Richview Collegiate Institute from which he was drafted in 2002.

MORE: Where Blue Jays rank in 2024 World Series odds

Here's what you need to know about Votto's deal with the Blue Jays.

Joey Votto contract details

Votto will be putting on a Blue Jays uniform, though there's no guarantee how long that will last. He signed a non-roster invite, meaning he will be participating in spring training with the Blue Jays moving forward.

The contract is a minor-league deal, though it gives him the option to earn his way onto the MLB roster before the start of the season. 

MORE: Blue Jays spring training schedule and ticket info

What is a non-roster invite?

The contract offered to Votto essentially means he can practice with the team during spring training even though he does not currently take up a 40-man roster spot or active roster spot. 

Non-roster invites can be for minor-leaguers not on the 40-man roster and are often included in contracts when players sign minor-league contracts with teams. It does not guarantee any future spots on the roster.

The Blue Jays currently have a full 40-man roster, but placing anyone on the 60-day injured list or designating another player for assignment could free up a spot for Votto.

Joey Votto career earnings

Votto has reportedly made more than $242 million from his MLB career, per Spotrac. He is going to earn an additional $7 million from the Reds' buyout of his 2024 option.

In 2012, Votto signed a massive 10-year, $225 million extension with Cincinnati. It is the largest contract in Reds' history and, at the time, and the largest contract signed by a Canadian baseball player.

Joey Votto stats

Votto is among the best first basemen in MLB history. He has 2,135 hits, 356 home runs and has accumulated 64.4 bWAR (Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement).

Year Age G PA HR RBI BB% K% AVG OBP SLG
2007 23 24 89 4 17 5.6% 16.9% .321 .360 .548
2008 24 151 589 24 84 10.0% 17.3% .297 .368 .506
2009 25 131 544 25 84 12.9% 19.5% .322 .414 .567
2010 26 150 648 37 113 14.0% 19.3% .324 .424 .600
2011 27 161 719 29 103 15.3% 17.9% .309 .416 .531
2012 28 111 475 14 56 19.8% 17.9% .337 .474 .567
2013 29 162 726 24 73 18.6% 19.0% .305 .435 .491
2014 30 62 272 6 23 17.3% 18.0% .255 .390 .409
2015 31 158 695 29 80 20.6% 19.4% .314 .459 .541
2016 32 158 677 29 97 16.0% 17.7% .326 .434 .550
2017 33 162 707 36 100 19.0% 11.7% .320 .454 .578
2018 34 145 623 12 67 17.3% 16.2% .284 .417 .419
2019 35 142 608 15 47 12.5% 20.2% .261 .357 .411
2020 36 54 223 11 22 16.6% 19.3% .226 .354 .446
2021 37 129 533 36 99 14.4% 23.8% .266 .375 .563
2022 38 91 376 11 41 11.7% 25.8% .205 .319 .370
2023 39 65 242 14 38 11.2% 25.6% .202 .314 .433
Career -- 2056 8746 356 1144 15.6% 18.8% .294 .409 .511

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.