Welcome back to the Reds Beat newsletter! Mark Sheldon has covered baseball for MLB.com since 2001, including the Reds since 2006.

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.

It turned out to be a busy week at Reds camp while I was off for a few days and back in Cincinnati. My thanks to Anthony Castrovince, Sonja Chen and Cole Bradley for filling in. Here are some stories from them that you may have missed:

• Frankie Montas was named the club’s Opening Day starter.

• Noelvi Marte received an 80-game suspension.

• Nick Lodolo returned to game action.

Spring Breakout begins on Thursday when some of the Reds’ best prospects take on the Rangers’ top prospects. Rangers reporter Kennedi Landry has everything you need to know.

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