The Blue Jays’ starting center fielder is back after a month on the injured list. Toronto announced today that Daulton Varsho has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list, where he’d spent the entire season while finishing off rehab from last September’s surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. The Jays optioned infielder Will Wagner to Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. On the pitching side of the roster, the Jays activated righty Casey Lawrence (whom they claimed from the Mariners over the weekend) and optioned right-hander Paxton Schultz to Buffalo.
Even with Varsho on the injured list, the Jays have gotten surprisingly strong production from the center field position in their lineup. Toronto center fielders have slashed a combined .311/.392/.478 this season. Each of Myles Straw, Nathan Lukes and George Springer has hit well while manning the position. Left field has been another story, however. Jays left fielders have posted an awful .180/.262/.247 slash overall. Alan Roden, Anthony Santander and Davis Schneider, in particular have struggled when they happen to be plugged into the left field slot in the lineup.
Varsho’s return should install him back in center on a regular basis. The former catcher is one of the spot’s premier outfield defenders, evidenced by gaudy marks of 39 Defensive Runs Saved and 25 Outs Above Average in only 1824 innings at the position. (His marks in the corners are similarly elite.) With Varsho in center and Springer in right on most days, the Blue Jays can turn left field over to a combination of Roden, Lukes, Santander, Straw and Addison Barger.
Speaking of Barger, he could be in for a larger run at third base now. Wagner, optioned to Triple-A today, has seen significant playing time at third base in a timeshare with Ernie Clement. Neither has hit well. Wagner has taken 68 turns at the plate and produced a .186/.284/.220 slash. His strikeout rate is basically average, and his 11.8% walk rate is excellent, but Wagner hasn’t made especially strong contact and has been quite prone to hitting the ball into the ground.
It’s only 68 plate appearances, but it’s a disappointing follow-up to last year’s .305/.337/.451 debut and this spring’s .256/.341/.410 output. Wagner will surely get future looks in the infield, be it as a regular at third base or in a utility capacity, but for now the second-generation 26-year-old will look to get back on track in the minors.
Toronto third basemen have combined to bat .204/.255/.235 on the young season. The resulting 42 wRC+ is tied with Milwaukee for worst in the majors. The righty-swinging Clement gets the nod at third base tonight versus Red Sox lefty Chris Sale, but with Wagner shipped out it would stand to reason that Barger could get a look as a left-handed complement. Clement is hitting just .219/.261/.266 overall this year, but in 25 plate appearances he’s torched lefties at a .421/.500/.579 clip.
If the Jays want to get creative at third base, they could slide Vladimir Guerrero Jr. over for an occasional look, as they did on 12 occasions last year, but that would only create a hole across the diamond. As it stands, the Jays need one of their in-house infield options to find something at the plate. In addition to the previously mentioned Wagner, Clement and Barger, former top prospect Orelvis Martinez has endured a brutal start in Buffalo, where he’s slashed .154/.247/.292 with a 39.7% strikeout rate in 73 plate appearances. To Martinez’s credit, he’s swinging a better bat of late, going 8-for-29 with a homer and three doubles in his past eight games (.276/.364/.483).
Looking forward to the game tonight! The three best defensive outfielders last season all playing in the same game, with Crochet vs Francis on the mound. Sweet!
Wow! Craziest catch I’ve ever seen!!
So fitting the ball was hit by the 2nd-best outfielder in MLB!
When did Chris Sale get traded back to the Red Sox?
That’s what I was wondering too.
“When did Chris Sale”…Breslow finally got his phone privileges restored by the Rsox over the last Chris Sale deal and he decided to strike while the iron was hot. Lol.
I heard Vaughn Grissom is tearing the cover off the ball in Wooster, so maybe Anthopoulus decided he wanted him back. (Braves could use him). So maybe they reverse-engineered that trade so Sale is back in Boston? I dunno, just a hunch.
Poor Jays. They going to get stomped tonight
MRS – Crochet was on, nothing they could do about that …. but what the hell happened to Francis? His pitch selection was awful, wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up on the IL.
Bo trying to steal third was incredibly idiotic.
I know the Jays have been playing good teams, but still I’m surprised they’ve lost 8 of their last 9.
Well they are facing questionable starting pitchers in their next two games, let’s see if they can at least be competitive.
all that money .. and they’re talking of platooning santandar? geez… now that’s an ugly contract so far.
Where do you see that, and who are ‘they’?
The “rebranding” to pitching and defence was more Shapiro and Atkins getting creative because they had nothing else in the system. They don’t draft very well, they don’t develop very well, their trades are done by a dartboard so why not trade or sign for pitching and defence? I think that’s the rationale but of course it’s Shapiro and Atkins – it’s not gonna work.
Even with all the outcry from Houston fans about the prospects given up in the Kikuchi trade, it seemed to not be much of a regret since he helped them get to the playoffs last year and the Blue Jays have Loperfido and Wagner struggling. We’ll see how Bloss turns out.
Certain Astros fans here on MLBTR were adamant that Houston gave up Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, and Nolan Ryan when they traded for Kikuchi. It was odd. The article’s comment section itself was wild.
Bloss so far looking like AAA material based on his current output.
@its_happening
Bloss is looking like a Home Depot associate based on his current output.
You mean Moreno and Gurriel. Teoscar was the other failed trade for Swanson and Macko.
Even commenting on the Blue Jays seems like a waste of energy now a days with how poorly managed (not to mention ran) this team is.
So 7 outfielders and no backup infielder, Vladdy is still in the two hole, it never worked the other three times they tried it and its not working now so keep doing it, the top of the lineup is not performing that well especially early in games so don’t change that, the bench, most nights, are young unproven left handed bats and the backup catcher, that’s not working so lets keep doing it…..I think that sums up the greatness of another minor league manager that should not have been given the job but its Atkins so that’s the current Blue Jays……yawn
One thing I wish the Blue Jays would do is get rid of Joe Sidal he has got to be the worst commentator in all of sports. He has no clue what he is talking about and can’t wait to hear himself talk. He is as annoying as Rance Mulniks was boring.
He is extremely knowledgeable. I get it if he’s not your cup of tea.
It’s all about run prevention baby. And Ross Atkins is all about doubling down, then tripling down on that run prevention. Gotta win all those 3-1 games.
Scoring 3 is tall order for this Jays squad.
They can do it one or two games a week. Be positive!
The Jays need a legitimate leadoff hitter and one more thumper. Ross Atkins needs to start thinking outside of the box because time’s a wastin’ . He may have thought getting that Vladdy contract finalized was going to be his big win and he’s lounging in the beanbag chair watching the Red Green Show or whatever they watch up there in the snowy northern climes.
It almost certainly was his last big win.
“If women dont find you handsome they should at least find you handy.”
“Second generation 26 year old.”
Ah yes he is 26 just like his father used to be. Runs in the family.