Votto talks future with Reds, joining Blue Jays

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GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- This will take some getting used to.

For fans of Joey Votto, it's probably the second-best outcome they could get after his $20 million club option was declined by the Reds in November. Votto is now wearing a Blue Jays uniform after signing a Minor League contract with Toronto over the weekend, giving the 40-year-old an opportunity to compete for a roster spot on his hometown club.

On Sunday, I had the chance to speak with Votto on the phone about his new situation and the one he left behind.

MLB.com: You probably wore a lot of Blue Jays gear growing up as a fan. Is it still surreal to be wearing it now, or anything other than a Reds uniform?

Votto: Yeah, it is. I did not anticipate this happening, but it's definitely an opportunity to be a fun experience.

MLB.com: If it works out, what would make this satisfying, both personally and professionally?

Votto: If I have the opportunity to help out at the Major League level and be a contributor on this team and be able to do it with respect, dignity, respect for others and respect for the game, that would mean a lot to me. I'm from Toronto, Canada. The thing that stands out for me the last few years in Cincinnati was how invested I became with the community and how many relationships I built and how I was given the opportunity to help and volunteer my time and resources. Just to be able to give was special to me.

When I think about Toronto and growing up there, one of the things that motivated me the most was the opportunity to genuinely help out my community, to give back to a community that raised me and has taken care of my family. To be able to do that is one of the most important things about this potential opportunity. I do volunteer my time in Toronto, but to be able to do it in a way where I can perhaps open up other people's eyes to ways they can dedicate their time or resources excites me. I was inspired to volunteer my time and my resources because of other examples, and I hope to do the same.

MLB.com: On social media these last few weeks, it was clear you missed baseball. Some of it was funny -- maybe or maybe not intentionally -- but how hard was it to not be at Spring Training when it started?

Votto: Everything was intentionally funny, Mark, of course.

MLB.com: But there was also a subtext.

Votto: It was difficult because I wanted an opportunity to right the ship. I wanted an opportunity to continue playing. I wasn't in a position where I could be demanding. I thought it would be best to get it going, get it started, get the process started. Of course I missed playing, but you can only train for so long before you start craving the presence of teammates, the routine of work and the experience of competition.

MLB.com: During the time you were home, did you pay attention to what was going on at Reds camp?

Votto: I was aware of most of what was going on in baseball. Frankly, these past several months, I had been on my phone far more than I would have liked trying to stay available for potential opportunities and the next step in my career. I was aware of just about everything that's going on. I'm not too far off from putting my phone down for a while.

MLB.com: I saw you reached out to Toronto's general manager before getting a deal there. Did you reach out to Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall at all, one last time, to see if there was a chance to return? Or was that taken care of when your option wasn't picked up?

Votto: I feel like it was explicit that they were moving on.

MLB.com: Down the road, are you up to the idea of returning to the Reds, whether it be as a player or beyond playing to re-up the relationship?

Votto: I'm not thinking about that right now.

MLB.com: In August, the Reds will be playing at Toronto. If everything is going well for you, there's a chance you will be playing against them. How would that feel?

Votto: I can't speak to the future. As I sit here right now, it's been an adjustment and it's certainly been a transition. I am hopeful that I feel different than I do right now and I'm hopeful that I'm focused and locked in and collaborating with my teammates and doing everything I can to represent the uniform and the city.

MLB.com: Will you get to keep No. 19 there?

Votto: I don't want to wear No. 19. I didn't ask for 19 when I got called up and that's never been the number I've wanted. But I grew into it, I grew fond of it, and more importantly, the fans in Cincinnati identified me as No. 19. Here, I'm wearing No. 37 during Spring Training. But if I make the Major League team, I don't think I will wear that number.

MLB.com: If you could write it, what is the perfect ending to this story?

Votto: Walk-off home run, 2024 World Series.