Daulton Varsho will bear surgical procedure to restore a rotator cuff damage in his proper shoulder, he tells Hazel Mae (X hyperlink). Toronto supervisor John Schneider advised the Toronto beat (relayed on X by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com) that the Jays could have a clearer timeline as soon as Varsho completes the process. Schneier didn’t rule out the likelihood that the rehab course of carries into subsequent yr’s Spring Coaching.
That brings an early finish to the outfielder’s second yr in Toronto. Varsho hit .214/.293/.407 with 18 homers, 21 doubles and 7 triples via 513 plate appearances. That’s league common offensive manufacturing, by measure of wRC+, with Varsho’s energy serving to to offset the poor on-base mark. It’s a greater yr than he had in 2023, when he hit .220/.285/.389 regardless of offense being greater across the league than it has been this season.
Varsho might not recapture the 27-homer type that he confirmed throughout his remaining season with the Diamondbacks. He can nonetheless be a really productive participant even with league common offense. The previous catcher has developed into one of many recreation’s premier defensive outfielders. Varsho had implausible marks for his 672 innings of middle subject work and his 400+ frames in left subject. Statcast has him tied for second amongst outfielders (behind Washington’s Jacob Younger) in Outs Above Common. Defensive Runs Saved credited Varsho with an unimaginable 28 runs above common — not solely the most effective in MLB however 5 runs away from second-place Jarren Duran.
These defensive metrics ought to earn Varsho his first Gold Glove. He’ll go into subsequent season as Toronto’s on a regular basis middle fielder if he’s wholesome. Any form of offseason setback may put that unsure, however for now, there’s no indication the Jays might want to look exterior the group for middle subject assist.
Nathan Lukes, who has taken over in middle, seems like a stable fourth outfielder. He’d be an possibility to choose up some early-season begins if Varsho falls not on time. George Springer has loads of middle subject expertise however he has solely performed one recreation there this season. As he enters his age-35 season, Springer appears firmly dedicated to proper subject.
Varsho is beneath crew management for an additional two seasons. He made $5.65MM in his second of 4 years of arbitration. He’ll possible land someplace within the $8-10MM vary subsequent yr.
