Joey Votto’s Future Should Be More Kelce Brothers and Less A-Rod and Jeter

The freshly retired Joey Votto isn’t just a unicorn, he’s a unicorn on a jet ski, mixing his stupid-good on-base skills with a stand-up’s wit in media interviews and fun fan interactions. Baseball broadcast partners like FOX, TBS, ESPN, and (maybe) Apple TV+ could all use the unique mix of on-field greatness and personality that Votto is (likely) going to be selling now that his 17-year playing career is over.

The only question is, does the 2010 NL MVP need them, or might he take some inspiration from some recent mega-success stories with the same unique mix of skills? 

FOX’s studio team of David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, and Derek Jeter is baseball’s biggest attempt at replicating TNT’s Inside The NBA magic with Charles Barkley, Shaq, and Kenny Smith, and the show is… fine. Ortiz seems like he’s having fun, sometimes you find yourself forgetting how thirsty A-Rod seems in the endless “I’m a real boy” quest for acceptance, and Jeter throws out the occasional bit of wisdom without ever saying anything too controversial. Nothing particularly thought-provoking ever bubbles up to the surface on these shows.. It would be very easy for Votto to add a big dose of personality to the FOX studio show, or to do the same while teaming up with Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Martinez, and the crew on TBS. Easy is not always best. 

Last week, in the midst of an exit interview with Dan Patrick, Votto jokingly went into Harrison Butker mode when he was asked about Travis Kelce robbing him of a chance to step up as Taylor Swift’s backup boyfriend. “Are they getting married, or are they just sinners?” the supposedly spurned Votto asked, stone faced, following up with a question about how Kelce and Swift’s families feel about the relationship. Patrick was beaming with delight, a lighter moment amidst a conversation filled with unusual candor about the end of an athlete’s career, the total immersion that sports demands, and its place as an occasional distraction from life’s harder moments. 

The interview was special, but it always is when Votto matches up with Patrick… or with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo… or when he pops up on Intentional Talk. This chat was heavier, sure, but that just shows Votto has that gear as well, allowing him to connect with fans on an emotionally honest level in certain moments where others might retreat into the safety of cliches. I guarantee you most analysts aren’t calling for more palpable “anger, hatred, and spite” in the midst of an on-field ego clash — like Votto did with Bryce Harper and Orlando Arcia’s showdown during the playoffs last year. There, he was seizing on the desire of fans to see more real moments of passion in the game. 

The point is that Votto is just different from everyone else. If you put him behind a desk and pay him to reference the old days and talk about swing paths, it’s going to be like locking a Porsche in a garage. Luckily, there is another way. 

Current and former player-led podcasts are all over the charts across baseball, basketball, and football, and they can lead to big paydays with the right talent. (This isn’t limited to media deals — just ask new Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Reddick how Mind The Game worked out for him.) 

Look at Pat McAfee. On one hand, he’s a like-him-or-loathe-him figure. On the other hand, he’s a no-doubt success story who went from outspoken former punter to wildly successful podcaster. For better or worse, his unique voice carried him from Barstool to an indie to an $85 million deal with ESPN and a lot of creative freedom. 

Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce represent another dream scenario for Votto. The brothers sold their New Heights podcast to Amazon’s Wondery for $100 million on Tuesday. That deal comes just a few months after Jason signed a massive deal with ESPN to become one of the faces of their NFL coverage just after he retired from the Eagles. That’s a hell of a TayTay bump, but let’s give the brothers their props for these success stories that they’ve built toward for years. These stories make it clear: media companies like ESPN will open the vault if a big name comes with a proven and portable audience. 

With his personality, profile, and proven skill, Joey Votto is, like Pat McAfee and the Kelce brothers, something more than a former player turned pundit. He’s an entertainer who might well find meteoric success as a brand within and perhaps beyond the conversations that swirl around baseball — assuming that’s what he wants, of course. If it is, then his talents clearly could match his ambitions, and take him beyond the gilded cage of a cushy but limited studio job.