Joey Votto is flirting with a new role that would thrill Reds fans all over again

Cincinnati Reds fans waved goodbye to Joey Votto after the 2023 season. The Reds declined Votto's $20 million club-option after the season came to a close, and following a brief stint with his hometown Toronto Blue Jays — one that never yielded a Major League appearance — he retired midway through the 2024 season.

Since that time, Votto's been a bit of a recluse, which is nothing new. While the six-time All-Star and former NL MVP was oftentimes the most mercurial man in baseball, Votto allowed his personality to shine through during the final few years of what will likely be a Hall of Fame career.

But now a new path has emerged for Votto. According to Front Office Sports, Votto could be headed into a television role next season. No, he wouldn't be part of the Reds' broadcasts on FanDuel Sports Network, but it sounds like both NBC and Netflix — MLB's newest broadcast partners — might attempt to lure Votto into the broadcast booth.

Reds' legend Joey Votto would be a perfect fit in the broadcast booth

An unnamed television producer told Front Office Sports, “Joey Votto is, in my opinion, a no-brainer. He’s an MVP. He has a national name. He’s a natural in front of the camera.” Another source suggested NBC could make a huge splash if they hired Votto to be the color analyst for their new Sunday Night Baseball broadcast which will debut next season.

The idea of Votto heading into broadcasting is nothing new. After suffering a season-ending injury during the 2022 season, Votto made a handful of appearances alongside John Sadak and Barry Larking in the Reds' television booth. Votto was actually doing play-by-play when Spencer Steer hit a home run during his big league debut in September that season.

Votto's résumé was among the best of his generation, and he's always been one of the most interesting personalities in the sport. While Reds fans would undoubtedly prefer to hear him on the local airwaves in Cincinnati, listening to the future Hall of Famer break down games on a weekly basis for one of the national outlets would be quite the treat for the folks in the Queen City.