Joey Votto hilariously compares free agency to being in Sandra Bullock movie

Long-time Cincinnati Reds great Joey Votto is still a free agent, and he seems to be trying to keep a sense of humor about it as he is still without a team as New Year’s Day approaches.

The 2010 National League MVP and six-time MLB All-Star had his $20 million option declined by the Reds last month, leaving the first baseman to join the open market for the first time in his career.

He oddly likened the experience to a famous Sandra Bullock movie scene, Gravity.”

“Being a free agent is like that scene from Gravity where Sandra Bullock detaches from the Explorer,” Votto wrote on X on Thursday. “You’re all alone, no one is answering your calls, and you don’t know if you’ll get back to base. Your only hope is George Clooney saving you. Save me, George.”

The slugger, who made his MLB debut in 2007 with the Reds, has never played for another big league club, so this experience must be completely new to him.

Votto, who turned 40 in September, had a limited on-field impact this past season, hitting a career-low .202 with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs in 208 at-bats over just 65 games with the Reds last season.

The team challenged for a playoff berth for most of the season but finished 82-80 and third in the NL Central.

“With where we are, looking at our roster, playing time, how that affects us moving forward, I think it made the most sense for us to decline the option,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said in November after the team declined his option, per MLB.com.  

The one-time Gold Glove winner last made an All-Star team in 2018, one year after he finished second for NL MVP behind then-Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton.

In his career, Votto, a .294 hitter, has collected 356 long balls and 1,144 RBIs with a .920 OPS.

His 2,135 hits and 1,365 walks both rank as the most for an active MLB player.

Votto still has time ahead of Spring Training and the conclusion of the offseason to join a team for what will be his 18th MLB season.