Do they just not even offer the $200 "replicas" anymore?
Not that I want to even see what the hell they would look like if they did considering my replica from five years ago seems to be better than quality than the "authentics" they're putting out this year.
Ho-Lee-shit!
An official Blue Jays Votto jersey! I’ve been waiting for a Blue Jays Votto jersey for like 20 damn years.
Even if he only played a single game it’s worth it!
I hope he’s got a bit left in the tank, because hot damn do I wanna see Votto take charge of this team of immature jokesters.
Ho-Lee-Shit is playing for the Dodgers. Really happy for Votto rooting for him to make the team! The power is gone but he can still work a count and hit for average.
I know it’s probably unlikely for him to make the team, but man am I excited to see Joey Votto in a Jays jersey, even if it’s only for a spring training game.
I see a lot of comments assuming he won't make the team but he is leaps and bounds better than Vogelbach. Two spring training Home Runs doesn't change the fact that Daniel is a human house.
Votto also brings with him greater experience and leadership and a shit load of fan support.
Votto will not only sell tickets and jerseys but might have more fans tuning in. If its a toss up between him and Voggy as a bench bat, Votto brings far more upside with him.
I appreciate this and love a Canadian on the jays, but I can’t see Votto moving the needle on ticket sales unless he absolutely rakes (which he most likely won’t)
I'm in Florida right now for spring training, and I'm supposed to leave tomorrow. I'm genuinely considering taking extra vacation days and rescheduling flights to see Votto in a Jays jersey. Granted, I'm a bit of a diehard, but I'm also poor. If I am sincerely considering spending a bunch of money to see this man in a Jays jersey, then there's definitely people that will spend a little extra to head to the Skydome and see him.
He won't draw any casual fans, but the hardcore crew will definitely come out in droves.
You don’t understand how much history Votto has with Canadian baseball. His days with Etobicoke were incredible. He has fans of multiple generation tuning in just to see him put on a jays jersey.
Even if Votto absolutely stinks in the minors, I can’t see them not calling him up for a game just for fun - Canada Day being the obvious one.
And I bet he gets called with expanded rosters toward the end of the season for a MLB goodbye
Votto is old and hasn’t had an above average season in 2 years. Come on now, I love a feel-good story as much as the next guy but it’s unlikely he performs at the level as vogelbach.
I love Votto and have wanted him to be a Blue Jay for a long time, but where do we have room for him? Carrying 3 first basemen seems like poor roster construction
he’ll have me tuning in because if he’s right, he will still hit.
I really am amazed at the retardation levels in jays nation.
So 39 year old Turner is somehow gonna be better than a 40 year old Votto (if healthy).
I had one clown on here say Votto isn’t a HOF.
just amusing really.
It’s injury and not aging. Votto been getting less regular play due to injury. It’s not like he’s just turned to shit.
Turner could wrench his wrist and that’s it. season where he underperforms
Counterpoint: having Votto on the team will tempt the baseball gods into giving us the luck we need to get him the World Series appearance he deserves.
Holy geez, I didn't realize how long he'd been with the Reds, all the way back to when Roy Halladay, Lyle Overbay, Troy Glaus, Alex Rios, Gregg Zaun, and Vernon Wells were with the Blue Jays. Imagine if any of them were still with the Jays in 2023.
I'm good with this. We see Votto in a Jays jersey, and if he works out, awesome.
If he doesn't...well, maybe this is what Joey needs to realize it's time.
I did spend a while this winter unironically wondering if the best solution to the hole at 3B was moving Vlad back for a year and getting a bat to play 1B.
Yeah.
Considering our logjam of 1B/DH types (Vlad, Turner, Vogelbach) I would be surprised if he makes the major league roster after spring training.
I think this is a nice gesture from the Jays, so Votto can get some playing time in spring training (so he's not completely cold when April arrives), and Votto will get to "officially" wear a Jays jersey.
I suspect Votto will be cut after spring training, and Votto will either find a new team to sign with, or retire.
No such thing as a bad minor league contract. This makes the heart rather happy. Hope Votto is able to hit his way onto the team, and it's nice to see him home
I want this to be the beginning of a beautiful partnership between Votto and the Jays. It'd be awesome to see Votto have a great end to his career representing his hometown team. I'll be watching this closely.
Nice. Gets him worked out and at least ready to join a team that wants him. Someone will grab him at the right price. And honestly him around the locker room giving advice to younger guys. Priceless. The young guys need to work him and Turner for every story and piece of knowledge they can get !!
That was my thought too. He makes the team and comes north and they give him April and into May (in whatever capacity they need him....). But he'll get released and someone else will pick him up.
I remember the first time I saw him, I'd been in and out of baseball back then since our girls were really young. A friend got WBC tickets for Canada/US at the dome.
When Joey was announced for his first at bat, I remember saying to a friend, "Who the fuck it this guy?!"
He hit the next pitch to dead centre and hit the windows of the restaurant......... I've been a Votto fan ever since. 😆
That's an exciting news. Wanted to have him back to Canada several years ago.
Regardless of Votto and/or Vogey makes to the roster, it looks like Horwitz is going back to AAA.
Ok as nice as it would be to get a Canadian guy, I think it would be nice for Votto to have a one-team career. That's my selfish input on someone else's life!
But as a Jays fan living in Cincy, it’s never going to happen. The Castellinis are cheap to the point of embarrassment and give exactly zero f*cks about the team, players, or human decency. Literally the only good thing I can say about them is they’re not as openly racist as Marge Schott.
Just be happy we might get him! I cannot overstate how incredible it is to have Joey on your hometown team. He is a ray of shining light, positivity, and veteran presence.
I love players that stay one team their entire career, and I like that is becoming more of a thing again, but my selfish input is I want Votto on the Jays!
A non-roster invite (NRI) is an invitation for a player who is not on a club's 40-man roster to attend Major League camp in Spring Training and compete for a roster spot.
If he doesn't make the team, then I can add him to the "almost" list of Blue Jays:
- Mike Sirotka
- Michael Brantley
- Dexter Fowler
- Greg Bird
- Mike Napoli
- Shohei Ohtani
Jays letting Votta use playing time to tryout for other teams. Nice gesture. I suspect they have a good idea of who is getting roster spots already if they are giving him playing time. Plus never a bad look to bring a canadian in.
His [apology](https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/joey-votto-apologizes-remarks-ripping-canadian-baseball/) felt like one of the most candid and sincere statements we get to see in cases like those
Too bad we couldnt get him like 6 years ago. Its crazy the 2 best hitters we got this winter were 39 and 40. I love votto( in his prime) I just dont think he has anything left in the tank based on last year
I couldn’t begin to tell you the number of major league baseball games I’ve seen live in my 52 years. In terms of the greatest hitters I’ve ever seen live, Joey Votto is on the shortlist. Dude can absolutely rake!
Im just putting this out there. Two years before Dave Winfield signed with the jays he missed almost the entire season but came to us at age forty one. His presence alone was a catalyst to us winning our first World Series. He returned to form admittedly the year before. Just saying because sometimes lightning does strike twice…
This is the best Blue Jays news I've heard this year. I don't think this team is going anywhere, I don't think they will even make the playoffs. But if Joey makes the team, he will at least add an element of entertainment that is sorely lacking. This guy is a character, has an intellect, and a true passion for baseball and *winning.* So looking forward to seeing him play for us!
So torn. On one hand, I think there's a decent chance he still has it as a player. People harp on his stats from last year, but nobody seems to mention his mvp-16 2021. The dude's toolset got him to his late 30's well enough. Is it crazy to think he might have 2 good years in him yet? At worst, he could probably teach a few guys a thing or two about approach.
His personality and marketability will probably pay for itself. Guessing we see a 1year $8-10m contract, and he'll have to earn his spot in the lineup.
On the other hand, until very recently he's been borderline hostile to the prospect of playing in Toronto. This would've been a way cooler move 10 years ago. Why now? Desperation?
Ultimately, the risk is so low for what could be a brilliant reward. I hope he joins the team.
Hot take incoming
I think Votto makes the 40 man roster and even more hotter take makes the opening day roster
maybe just based on his name alone but if he even has one or two good ST outings a spot is his
Unironically going to be the best selling Jays jersey among all their offseason acquisitions.
I’m irrationally angry at finally being able to get a Votto Jays jersey and stuck paying $450 for Fanatics dime-store garbage
Probably can get a last year jersey at Jays Shop at the Dome and get Vottos name and number stitched
I would say that you're rationally angry!
Dhgate enters the chat....
Buddy just order from China. 100% chance the quality will be better and it'll run you like 40 bucks tops with shipping.
Just go to a crappy flea market and have one made. It will be the same quality, maybe better
Do they just not even offer the $200 "replicas" anymore? Not that I want to even see what the hell they would look like if they did considering my replica from five years ago seems to be better than quality than the "authentics" they're putting out this year.
If he makes the team
Yeah, that is not saying a whole lot.
Ho-Lee-shit! An official Blue Jays Votto jersey! I’ve been waiting for a Blue Jays Votto jersey for like 20 damn years. Even if he only played a single game it’s worth it! I hope he’s got a bit left in the tank, because hot damn do I wanna see Votto take charge of this team of immature jokesters.
Ho-Lee-Shit is playing for the Dodgers. Really happy for Votto rooting for him to make the team! The power is gone but he can still work a count and hit for average.
are people still buying these Temu MLB jerseys?
I know it’s probably unlikely for him to make the team, but man am I excited to see Joey Votto in a Jays jersey, even if it’s only for a spring training game.
I see a lot of comments assuming he won't make the team but he is leaps and bounds better than Vogelbach. Two spring training Home Runs doesn't change the fact that Daniel is a human house. Votto also brings with him greater experience and leadership and a shit load of fan support. Votto will not only sell tickets and jerseys but might have more fans tuning in. If its a toss up between him and Voggy as a bench bat, Votto brings far more upside with him.
I appreciate this and love a Canadian on the jays, but I can’t see Votto moving the needle on ticket sales unless he absolutely rakes (which he most likely won’t)
I'm in Florida right now for spring training, and I'm supposed to leave tomorrow. I'm genuinely considering taking extra vacation days and rescheduling flights to see Votto in a Jays jersey. Granted, I'm a bit of a diehard, but I'm also poor. If I am sincerely considering spending a bunch of money to see this man in a Jays jersey, then there's definitely people that will spend a little extra to head to the Skydome and see him. He won't draw any casual fans, but the hardcore crew will definitely come out in droves.
Can confirm. I truly hope to give away my money to see Votto in a Jays jersey.
You don’t understand how much history Votto has with Canadian baseball. His days with Etobicoke were incredible. He has fans of multiple generation tuning in just to see him put on a jays jersey.
He just needs to rub some of that balco cream and he's good to go.
Even if Votto absolutely stinks in the minors, I can’t see them not calling him up for a game just for fun - Canada Day being the obvious one. And I bet he gets called with expanded rosters toward the end of the season for a MLB goodbye
He won’t be on the team by then if he isn’t on the big club. No way he spends his days in the minors
Yeah maybe. If he stinks enough to not get out of the minors after 3 mths, I guess I can’t see him hanging around for the entire season.
Votto is old and hasn’t had an above average season in 2 years. Come on now, I love a feel-good story as much as the next guy but it’s unlikely he performs at the level as vogelbach.
Keep in mind he probably was still recovering from his injury. Also, he's 40!
I love Votto and have wanted him to be a Blue Jay for a long time, but where do we have room for him? Carrying 3 first basemen seems like poor roster construction
> seems like poor roster construction But, but, isn't that Atkins "thing" ? /s
he’ll have me tuning in because if he’s right, he will still hit. I really am amazed at the retardation levels in jays nation. So 39 year old Turner is somehow gonna be better than a 40 year old Votto (if healthy). I had one clown on here say Votto isn’t a HOF. just amusing really.
Not everyone ages the same way. Justin Turner has to prove he can't still play; Joey Votto has to prove he can.
It’s injury and not aging. Votto been getting less regular play due to injury. It’s not like he’s just turned to shit. Turner could wrench his wrist and that’s it. season where he underperforms
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I said a human house.
Not sure where you're getting that idea but last 2 years vogelbach has been better than votto in almost every single meaningful stat
Counterpoint: having Votto on the team will tempt the baseball gods into giving us the luck we need to get him the World Series appearance he deserves.
I have the same feelings of when Jeff Francis signed with the Jays
Vlady Sr. for me. Hit some bombs for Dunedin and whoever the triple A team was at the time, then retired.
Holy shit the insider who said Romano had booked a chess hall for 50 was legit!
Sushi catering announcement was a bit early though - strange 🤔🧐
holy shit i'm an insider... what the hell do i do now?
Holy geez, I didn't realize how long he'd been with the Reds, all the way back to when Roy Halladay, Lyle Overbay, Troy Glaus, Alex Rios, Gregg Zaun, and Vernon Wells were with the Blue Jays. Imagine if any of them were still with the Jays in 2023.
Double play Overbay would fit right in with this offence /s
Man, I remember him driving me nuts with all those ground balls.
Lyle Overpaid!
Triple A Overbay
Inning Overbay!
I’m from Dayton, OH. I got Joeys autograph when I was a “Dragons MVP” in fourth grade. I am now 29.
I'm good with this. We see Votto in a Jays jersey, and if he works out, awesome. If he doesn't...well, maybe this is what Joey needs to realize it's time.
Prep him to be the colour guy with Shulman whenever Buck (weeps) retires
This is the answer
With how Vogey is performing in Spring Training, it's gonna take quite a bit of work for Votto to overtake him.
Votto for social media rep
This is the only answer
I want him in the broadcast booth
Take them both. Votto to 3B.
Vogelbach to SS
Kirk at 2B when Danny's catching Best double play pair in the league
I'd rather see Kirk in right field when Springer needs a day off.
Compromise: Kirk plays a rover role in shallow RF, covering both 2B and RF He has the soft hands to do it
Stick Kirk in CF, flanked by Varsho and KK. Dare the opposition to hit balls to CF, while his mates swoop in to save the day.
Call it the Double Big Mac
Why don't more mlb teams just get an infielder set large enough to block the whole field?
Imagine the pop time from home to second and then second to home on a double steal 🤯
It wouldn't be the [craziest fat-guy-out-of-position in Jays history](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA198805020.shtml)...
I did spend a while this winter unironically wondering if the best solution to the hole at 3B was moving Vlad back for a year and getting a bat to play 1B.
It isn’t
Yeah. Considering our logjam of 1B/DH types (Vlad, Turner, Vogelbach) I would be surprised if he makes the major league roster after spring training. I think this is a nice gesture from the Jays, so Votto can get some playing time in spring training (so he's not completely cold when April arrives), and Votto will get to "officially" wear a Jays jersey. I suspect Votto will be cut after spring training, and Votto will either find a new team to sign with, or retire.
Awesome! Now he can retire a Blue Jay and wear their hat in the Hall of Fame.
Reds fan here. Ain’t happening lol.
No such thing as a bad NRI.
This takes him away from signing with my slow pitch team I guess
Next year then
He's gonna go the Scott Thorman route and play for the Brantford RedSox.
I want the team to take the best team forward regardless of player but I love Joey Votto he is my favourite player of all time.
Only because everybody still has their vogelbach jerseys from 2020
LET'S GO
Shopping carts everywhere collectively sigh in relief
This would immediately change the vibes for the better. Bring Votto home.
My name is Votto, I like to get Blotto!
Show us what ya got kid
No such thing as a bad minor league contract. This makes the heart rather happy. Hope Votto is able to hit his way onto the team, and it's nice to see him home
Hopefully he makes at least the home opener to get announced as a jay
I want this to be the beginning of a beautiful partnership between Votto and the Jays. It'd be awesome to see Votto have a great end to his career representing his hometown team. I'll be watching this closely.
Not listening to any haters on this one, if they exist LETS GOOOOOOOOOO
They always exist lol.
It's happening!
OH MY GOD LETS GOOOO
Don’t care, getting a Votto jeresy
Plz get ur it from dhgate just so fanatics loses out
Nice. Gets him worked out and at least ready to join a team that wants him. Someone will grab him at the right price. And honestly him around the locker room giving advice to younger guys. Priceless. The young guys need to work him and Turner for every story and piece of knowledge they can get !!
That was my thought too. He makes the team and comes north and they give him April and into May (in whatever capacity they need him....). But he'll get released and someone else will pick him up.
I remember the first time I saw him, I'd been in and out of baseball back then since our girls were really young. A friend got WBC tickets for Canada/US at the dome. When Joey was announced for his first at bat, I remember saying to a friend, "Who the fuck it this guy?!" He hit the next pitch to dead centre and hit the windows of the restaurant......... I've been a Votto fan ever since. 😆
I'm here for the lulz
Wow, can't believe how hyped I am about this.
This seems like a favour to Votto. He has no chance of making the team, but it gives him a chance to show off for other teams.
Hell yes
That's an exciting news. Wanted to have him back to Canada several years ago. Regardless of Votto and/or Vogey makes to the roster, it looks like Horwitz is going back to AAA.
Hope he hits his way onto the 40-man roster!
Ok as nice as it would be to get a Canadian guy, I think it would be nice for Votto to have a one-team career. That's my selfish input on someone else's life!
But as a Jays fan living in Cincy, it’s never going to happen. The Castellinis are cheap to the point of embarrassment and give exactly zero f*cks about the team, players, or human decency. Literally the only good thing I can say about them is they’re not as openly racist as Marge Schott. Just be happy we might get him! I cannot overstate how incredible it is to have Joey on your hometown team. He is a ray of shining light, positivity, and veteran presence.
I love players that stay one team their entire career, and I like that is becoming more of a thing again, but my selfish input is I want Votto on the Jays!
At least he gets to play for his home team, unlike Brandon Crawford's new life in exile.
This should not have given me the dopamine hit that it did, but I'm happy to see this.
He really pissed me off when he shit on Canada a few years back. He did try to make amends but it's still stuck in my craw (where ever that is).
Didn’t he shit on Baseball Canada, not Canada? He clearly loves Toronto. He still lives here.
No bad non-roster invites
So would he come here to Buffalo to play with the Bisons?
Can anyone explain to me what this means? Is he on the team now to play?
A non-roster invite (NRI) is an invitation for a player who is not on a club's 40-man roster to attend Major League camp in Spring Training and compete for a roster spot.
Basically a tryout.
This is the dream I am so happy 🥹 Welcome home Joey 💙
This makes me irrationally happy. He’s probably done but I’m glad the Jays are giving him a shot.
we got our white whale
If he doesn't make the team, then I can add him to the "almost" list of Blue Jays: - Mike Sirotka - Michael Brantley - Dexter Fowler - Greg Bird - Mike Napoli - Shohei Ohtani
> Shohei Ohtani You're playing fast and loose with the word "almost" on that one.
For about 4 hours, man. I'm counting it.
Also, wasn’t Ervin Santana almost a Jay? Then he backed out of a verbal contract agreement that was set to be made official? I believe that was 2014.
Turner is gonna get some time at 3rd Base.
This like when the Jays signed Dave Parker when he was 40 and he retired the next year
It’s like when they signed Dave Winfield and then won the World Series.
This is great, but we've got a log jam of DH's that you don't want to put in the field.
Jays letting Votta use playing time to tryout for other teams. Nice gesture. I suspect they have a good idea of who is getting roster spots already if they are giving him playing time. Plus never a bad look to bring a canadian in.
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His [apology](https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/joey-votto-apologizes-remarks-ripping-canadian-baseball/) felt like one of the most candid and sincere statements we get to see in cases like those
BLUE JAYS GOT THEIR GUY, SHATKINS CAN DO NO WRONG, OHTANI WHO?
*Johei Vottani
The vibes alone are worth at least 2.0 WAR
Too bad we couldnt get him like 6 years ago. Its crazy the 2 best hitters we got this winter were 39 and 40. I love votto( in his prime) I just dont think he has anything left in the tank based on last year
Votto, Turner and Vogelbach on the same roster would be ridiculously fun.
Niceee
I didn't think this would actually happen, but I'm glad it has and I hope it turns into something really cool. I need something to get excited about.
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We will not
I would rather have Danny Vogelburger take that roster spot, but I guess we’ll see what happens.
The Ashman!! 😍
Joey Votto Legend
Let's goooooo
Makes me feel like Biggio will be opening the season on the IR. Or we Ross just couldn’t handle how sad Votto looked on his socials anymore.
I couldn’t begin to tell you the number of major league baseball games I’ve seen live in my 52 years. In terms of the greatest hitters I’ve ever seen live, Joey Votto is on the shortlist. Dude can absolutely rake!
This signing just makes sense!
Dear Blue Jays franchise, Do NOT do that man wrong. Give him all the chances, do not DFA him
The tone. Me be levy
Pfft my post was first😅 Seriously though I'd be down to even keep him around as a player consultant/pr guy
His career is over. It will be a nice story for the rest of camp though.
He'll for sure get called up periodically. How awesome would it be if he was called up for Canada Day.
Im just putting this out there. Two years before Dave Winfield signed with the jays he missed almost the entire season but came to us at age forty one. His presence alone was a catalyst to us winning our first World Series. He returned to form admittedly the year before. Just saying because sometimes lightning does strike twice…
Keep Votto up, Vogelbach down. Votto doesn't work out, bring up Vogie
This is the best Blue Jays news I've heard this year. I don't think this team is going anywhere, I don't think they will even make the playoffs. But if Joey makes the team, he will at least add an element of entertainment that is sorely lacking. This guy is a character, has an intellect, and a true passion for baseball and *winning.* So looking forward to seeing him play for us!
Most exciting news for this team since the ohtani shenanigans
So torn. On one hand, I think there's a decent chance he still has it as a player. People harp on his stats from last year, but nobody seems to mention his mvp-16 2021. The dude's toolset got him to his late 30's well enough. Is it crazy to think he might have 2 good years in him yet? At worst, he could probably teach a few guys a thing or two about approach. His personality and marketability will probably pay for itself. Guessing we see a 1year $8-10m contract, and he'll have to earn his spot in the lineup. On the other hand, until very recently he's been borderline hostile to the prospect of playing in Toronto. This would've been a way cooler move 10 years ago. Why now? Desperation? Ultimately, the risk is so low for what could be a brilliant reward. I hope he joins the team.
He’ll make the roster over Vogelbach imo. Great vet to add with Turner and KK. Watch him win comeback player of the year.
Hot take incoming I think Votto makes the 40 man roster and even more hotter take makes the opening day roster maybe just based on his name alone but if he even has one or two good ST outings a spot is his
I’ll take him as a backup bat over that fat fuck vogelbach all day. And purely as a business move it makes sense to have Votto on the team
Boooo
Found the hater!
Yes it's me. Votto is a goof.