Matt McLain Reflects on Joey Votto's Departure: 'He'll Always Be a Part of This Organization'

Votto became a free agent earlier this month.

Author:
Rick Ucchino
Publish date:
Nov 30, 2023 5:07 PM EST

In this story:

The Reds hope to take the next step in 2024, going from young upstart team to bonafide contender. lt looks like they're going to do so without one of the franchise's all-time great players.

For the first time in his Hall of Fame caliber career, Joey Votto is now a free agent. President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall made the decision to decline Votto's team option for next year, seemingly ending his Cincinnati career after 17 seasons.

Votto's contributions on the stat sheet in 2023, were not nearly as valuable as his ones on the practice field, in the dugout, and inside the clubhouse.

With the roster full of young and talented, albeit inexperienced, Major League players, the former National League MVP took on the role of mentor for so many of the first and second year players in 2023. Working to improve their game anyway he could, but also just teaching them how to conduct themselves as big league ballplayers.

"For no reason, he just came up to me, [and] started helping me," Matt McLain said. "He really helped me as a player on and off the field, with a lot of things. But it's gonna be weird for sure, especially for the City of Cincinnati. They've known him way longer than I have. It's gonna be weird, but you know, he'll always be a part of this organization and this team. And he knows that. The whole team knows that and all of Cincinnati knows that."

McLain admits that he doesn't want to see Votto play anywhere else next season, and much like his teammate Andrew Abbott told the media Thursday afternoon, it sounds like he would welcome Joey back with open arms should the stars align for him to return to Cincinnati.

That scenario seems highly unlikely, however, as the Reds' already crowded infield was a major driving force behind letting Votto test the free agent market.

Spencer Steer, who finished sixth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, already seems destined for more playing time in left field and there are serious questions about the future of former Rookie of the Year Jonathan India in Cincinnati as his name continues to pop up in rumored trade discussions.

The depth of talent is real in Cincinnati, which McLain says is a great thing. Knowing that there's good players in the lineup, takes a ton of pressure off a young player. Especially when you have someone with game changing talent like Elly De La Cruz playing along side you.

"It's really good feeling knowing that he's next to you. You can turn double plays that a lot of middle infields can't," McLain said. "And when he's on the bases, if you're hitting, get a base hit [and] he'll probably score. If you're on the bases when he's hitting, he's gonna hit something hard so you better be ready to score."

Depending on what happens with India this winter, McLain and De La Cruz could be the anchors of the middle infield for years to come in Cincinnati. For McLain, he says he's good to play either second base or shortstop.

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