On March 8, 2024, Joey Votto, former NL MVP and 40-year-old first baseman, signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, including a spring training invite.

Votto, a Toronto native, is attempting a comeback following a rotator cuff surgery in 2022 and has expressed his intention not to retire.

After 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Votto became a free agent. His 2023 season included a .202 average with 14 homers and 38 RBIs over 65 games.

He is a six-time All-Star with career achievements including a .294 average, 356 homers, and 1,144 RBIs, ranking fifth in Reds history and second among Canadian MLB players.

His contract with the Blue Jays has a base salary of $2 million with up to $2 million in possible incentives.

The Blue Jays may initially assign Votto to the minor leagues to regain his form and potentially serve as a left-handed complement to batters Guerrero and Turner.

Cincinnati Reds declined Votto's $20 million option for 2024, preceding his free agency and subsequent signing with the Blue Jays.