ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 2: Daulton Varsho #5 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts during the 4th inning against the Atlanta Braves astatine Truist Park connected June 2, 2026 successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays entered the 2026 play hoping Daulton Varsho would build connected his estimation arsenic 1 of baseball's premier protect outfielders while besides positioning himself for a monolithic payday successful free agency acknowledgment to an violative surge.
Instead, injuries and inconsistent accumulation person analyzable some his ongoing play and his semipermanent outlook. While Varsho remains 1 of the club's astir valuable defenders, his way toward a nine-figure statement this wintertime appears acold little definite than it did conscionable a fewer months ago.
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Toronto Blue Jays’ John Schneider Sends 6-Word Message With Daulton Varsho Seeking New Contract
As the Blue Jays caput toward seller position astatine the upcoming waste and acquisition deadline, Blue Jays head John Schneider precocious made it clear that the statement still values what Varsho brings beyond the batter's box. But the skipper hinted that Varsho mightiness beryllium trying to do excessively overmuch arsenic he heads toward a perchance lucrative free agency play aft this season.
“I get wherever everyone is successful their careers and (wanting) want their numbers to beryllium a definite thing, conscionable reminding him that his worth is (slugging),” Schneider said of Varsho, according to the Toronto Star’s Gregor Chisholm. “You request to put immoderate balls successful the seats. You request to play bully defense.”
Schneider's comments travel arsenic Varsho could beryllium heading to the waste and acquisition block. He’s sewage an expiring statement and the Blue Jays look virtually retired of playoff contention. But entering the season, it seemed arsenic if Varsho mightiness person been a nine-figure hold campaigner for the team.
“Varsho entered outpouring training pinch the anticipation of becoming the apical position subordinate disposable astatine the extremity of the year,” Chisholm added. “A $100-million-plus (U.S.) statement seemed wrong reach, perchance $150 cardinal depending connected the magnitude of the deal. That large payday nary longer appears realistic. Even if Varsho goes connected a tear complete the last 2 months, location will still beryllium capable uncertainty that he would person to return little money aliases motion a one-year reset woody and re-enter the marketplace successful 2028.”
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While Varsho’s violative accumulation hasn't matched expectations, rival clubs could still position him arsenic an intriguing waste and acquisition target because of his erstwhile imaginable arsenic good arsenic his continued protect prowess.
“Varsho remains mired successful a 24-game homer drought, and connected the play he's managed conscionable a .688 OPS pinch 7 agelong balls successful 91 contests, but his protect reputation, powerfulness imaginable and free-agent position aft this play will apt make him 1 of the Blue Jays' much charismatic assets astatine the waste and acquisition deadline,” CBS Sports reported past week.
Even arsenic Schneider emphasized that Varsho appears to beryllium overly focused connected posting definite numbers astatine the sheet this season, the squad could nett a important imaginable return if they make him disposable successful the coming days. The marketplace whitethorn nary longer beryllium projecting the blockbuster statement that erstwhile seemed inevitable for the outfielder, but he could still person a important effect connected the Blue Jays’ efforts to rebuild pursuing a disappointing campaign.
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