Should I Fill Ohtani’s Vacancy with Votto? MLB Angels ‘Eating Mustard While Crying’
The Los Angeles Angels, who had to send Shohei Ohtani (29), who became a free agent (FA),
to the Los Angeles Dodgers of the Major League Baseball (MLB),
are considering signing veteran infielder Joey Votto (40) to strengthen their offense. 메이저사이트
Joey Votto
In an article reporting on free agent market trends on the 25th (Korean time),
MLB.com reported that the Angels are one of the clubs showing interest in Votto.
Votto, who was once the ‘on-base master’ representing the Major League,
played only for the Cincinnati Reds for 17 seasons from 2007 to 2023.
His big league career performance is a batting average of 0.294, 2,135 hits,
an on-base percentage of 0.409, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.920,
which is a level that would allow him to enter the Hall of Fame even if he retires right now.
Joey Votto, who had been playing at the top level by hitting 36 home runs until 2021,
played in only 156 games in two seasons in 2022 and 2023 due to injuries, and hit only 25 home runs.
Joey Votto, who under his contract could have received $20 million if he continued to play for Cincinnati in 2024,
left Cincinnati with only $7 million in a buyout amount in the form of parting money.
MLB.com
MLB.com quoted Cincinnati baseball president Nick Kroll as saying that Cincinnati currently has no plans to re-sign Votto.
With Ohtani gone, the Angels currently have a vacant designated hitter position.
Votto, who played first base throughout his career,
is increasingly appearing as a designated hitter as he gets older.
No matter who comes, no player can fill Shohei Ohtani’s vacancy, but if Votto burns the last spark,
he can expect some level of offensive power from him.
The problem is the possibility of Votto’s comeback.
Votto is a player who has experienced the ‘aging curve’, which refers to a decline in skills due to aging, in recent years.
The Angels, who received an ‘F grade in the free agent market’ from the American media because they did not provide much reinforcement in the free agent market even after losing Shohei Ohtani,
are literally considering recruiting Votto in a ‘crying and eating mustard’ manner.