Daulton Varsho will endure surgical procedure to restore a rotator cuff damage in his proper shoulder, he tells Hazel Mae (X hyperlink). Toronto supervisor John Schneider instructed the Toronto beat (relayed on X by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com) that the Jays can have a clearer timeline as soon as Varsho completes the process. Schneier didn’t rule out the chance that the rehab course of carries into subsequent 12 months’s Spring Coaching.
That brings an early finish to the outfielder’s second 12 months 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 12 months than he had in 2023, when he hit .220/.285/.389 regardless of offense being larger across the league than it has been this season.
Varsho might not recapture the 27-homer type that he confirmed throughout his closing 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 incredible marks for his 672 innings of heart discipline work and his 400+ frames in left discipline. 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 heart fielder if he’s wholesome. Any form of offseason setback may put that doubtful, however for now, there’s no indication the Jays might want to look exterior the group for heart discipline assist.
Nathan Lukes, who has taken over in heart, appears to be like like a strong fourth outfielder. He’d be an choice to choose up some early-season begins if Varsho falls not on time. George Springer has loads of heart discipline expertise however he has solely performed one recreation there this season. As he enters his age-35 season, Springer appears firmly dedicated to proper discipline.
Varsho is below group management for an additional two seasons. He made $5.65MM in his second of 4 years of arbitration. He’ll doubtless land someplace within the $8-10MM vary subsequent 12 months.
