Are The Brewers Interested in Joey Votto?

This would be a disappointing turn of events if true...

Give me Santana over Votto but as long as Hoskins is still out there, I will keep dreaming on the 1% chance we get him...

It'd be fun from an entertainment standpoint at least, lol. His projected 95 wRC+ would probably be an upgrade over what we have if we're not throwing Black there right away (Bauers proj. for a 90 wRC+), and it's a jump up from what we did at 1B (81 wRC+) and DH last year (also 81 wRC+).

But there's a lot of better options out there currently, so unless they all fall through and he comes super cheap, prob a better idea to pass.

2-Year Splits for Available Free Agents Listed w/ 1B on FanGraphs (Votto had a big year 3 seasons ago, so I did 2 years so that wouldn't skew his results too much, especially as a 40-year-old who's less likely to return to production from 3+ years ago now):

I'd be all for it if it was 2018.

Votto would be interesting in a brewer uniform but I’m still dreaming for Hoskins and/or Mayo

Is it possible Santana wants more than one year so they're looking at alternatives? I have no interest in Votto, just wondering if there's a scenario where this is actually a legitimate rumor.

Hope not.

If we are serious about winning? No.

Brewers should go after Votto in 1 scenario and that's it. If they decide to trade Adames, Williams, and Burnes and basically have 2024 be a 1-year rebuild. Votto can come in as a fan interest tool and vet locker room guy for a young team. If the plan is to win the Brewers shouldn't go near Votto.

Santana>Votto.

Joey Votto is 40 years old, and as most senior players tend to do, has fought injuries the last two seasons while putting up basically below replacement-level numbers. The batting average, and with that his once-coveted OBP, has plummeted. Yes, he's a former MVP and multiple time All Star. But he hasn't been good in a couple years.

If there is one positive, its that his power numbers have managed to stay relatively decent. He's always hit well at Am Fam Field, which tends to boost lefty power hitters. But even with those factors, we aren't likely looking at much upside, unless some kind of crazy career resurgence comes out of nowhere. And that typically doesn't happen with 40-year-old power hitters.

I think Votto will make a fantastic bench coach, hitting coach, and/or manager someday if he wants a lifelong career in baseball....but I don't want him playing 1B for the Brewers in 2024

If they can't get Hoskins, the next best option is Justin Turner.  He's almost as old as Votto but unlike Votto, he still is an above average hitter.

Signing a veteran hitter very much on the downside of his career to pretty much be a starter is such a Stearns/Arnold move. Please don't.