Joey Votto has picked a side in baseball's labour fight, and it isn't the players'. The former star says he's backing ownership as a lockout looms.

“Taking ownership's side in this fight,” Votto wrote. “These ballplayers are getting too greedy for their own good.”

It's a striking stance from a former player.

The timing is loaded. The collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1, and a work stoppage looks all but certain.

The central fight is over a salary cap. The league recently offered to delay one until 2028, and the union's response was blunt.

“MLB owners continue to propose blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and increase their franchise values,” the MLBPA said.

Joey Votto's take clashes with the players' stance on a salary cap

Will his words move the needle? Probably not at the bargaining table.

Players have been just as firm. Brewers reliever Trevor Megill said during the postseason that a cap is “not going to happen.”

But Votto's comments could resonate with fans. Many are frustrated by the rising cost of watching and attending games, and a former star echoing that frustration gives it weight.

Toronto has a specific stake. Rogers owns the team, the stadium and the networks, and a long stoppage would hit all three at once.

Calling the players greedy is a tough sell. Owners are pushing for a cap while clubs like the Jays sold out 61 of 81 home dates last season, so the label cuts both ways.

Blaming only the players is like blaming the passengers for a turbulent flight. Both sides have their hands on the controls.

Votto has been a familiar voice around the Jays this fall. He recently offered advice on fixing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s swing.

His take will spark debate in clubhouses and front offices alike. Whether it changes anything depends on how long both sides are willing to dig in.