Joey Votto receives an opportunity with AL East contender

Votto, 40, had spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds up until this winter and was one of baseball's elite left-handed hitters for most of it. He won the 2010 National League MVP Award and finished in the top-three of MVP voting on two other occasions. 

The veteran slugger appeared in 65 games during the 2023 season, hitting 14 home runs.

Even though Votto is fraction of what he used to be, there is still a lot to like about this move.

For one, Votto is one of the greatest Canadian-born baseball players of all-time and will now have a chance to play in Toronto for a Blue Jays team that has its sights set on contending in the AL East. 

Votto also has the potential to be a useful veteran bat who can still make an occasional impact. His ability to hit for average and be an everyday player might be gone, but he is going to continue work professional at-bats, drawing walks and getting on base while offering the possibility of above-average power. As a spot-starter at DH and bat off the bench there is some potential, here. 

The Blue Jays have been a playoff team in three of the past four seasons – including each of the past two – and will need every bit of help they can get in a loaded division that also features contenders in the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees.