Daulton Varsho will likely make his 2025 debut on Tuesday when the Blue Jays host the Red Sox at the start of a six-game homestand. The Gold Glover and Fielding Bible award winner underwent surgery on his right rotator cuff last September, and started this season on the 10-day injured list to allow him extra time to get his throwing arm back up to full game readiness. Varsho was still able to log some at-bats as a DH during Spring Training, and his appearance with Triple-A Buffalo today marked the seventh game of his minor league rehab assignment.
The Jays have remained a very strong defensive team even in Varsho’s absence, and since Toronto’s lineup has been sorely lacking in power, the bigger boost would come if Varsho can more consistently unlock the home run pop he has shown at times during his five MLB seasons. Varsho’s biggest power season remains his 2022 campaign with the Diamondbacks, as he has only a .398 slugging percentage (but with 38 homers) in 1094 plate appearances in a Blue Jays uniform.
Varsho will resume his usual semi-everyday role in center field, only sitting when the Jays face some left-handed starting pitchers. Manager John Schneider told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and other reporters that no decision has been made about who will be sent down to Triple-A to create space for Varsho on the 26-man roster, though left-handed hitting outfielders Nathan Lukes or Addison Barger seem the likeliest candidates.
Turning to the pitching staff, Max Scherzer threw a 27-pitch bullpen session on Friday, and threw again today. It remains to be seen if this is the first step towards a potential rehab plan for Scherzer, as the recurring nature of his thumb injury has led to a lot of stops and starts over the better part of a year. Scherzer’s Blue Jays history thus far consists of three innings pitched on March 29 before thumb discomfort forced him from the game, and it would appear as though Scherzer is still multiple weeks away from a possible return.
Speaking of longer-term pitching injuries, the Jays shifted Ryan Burr from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL today. Right shoulder inflammation has kept Burr from pitching this season, and since he is also a ways away from returning to action, it isn’t surprising that Toronto has taken the step of officially ruling him out until late May.
The 60-day placement appears to be just an on-paper move, as Schneider made no indication that Burr had suffered any kind of setback. In moving Burr to the 60-day IL, the Blue Jays now have an open 40-man roster spot, which might hint at a potential secondary move coming. The Jays might have wanted to make space for an upcoming waiver claim, perhaps just in general, or the front office may have their eyes on a particular player currently on the wire.
The Jays had a nice start to the season, but reality is setting in. It’s a poorly constructed roster.
The Athletic did a recent survey among baseball executives asking which team’s front office they most admired. The Dodgers were the obvious winners. The Blue Jays front office received no votes (neither did the Cardinals).
Shapiro and Adkins have been allowed to waste way too much of someone else’s money. It’s time to fire them and start the rebuild.
Agreed. They probably should have started blowing it up in the offseason. I think extending Vlad Jr. instead of getting as big a haul as they could for him was a bad decision that they may end up regretting sooner rather than later. Bichette is likely going to walk in free agency, and Gausman is clearly declining. Those guys plus guys like Bassitt and Kirk could’ve brought back a good haul of prospects in the offseason. They aren’t good enough to make a legitimate run at a championship, and instead of just biting the bullet and going into another rebuild, they seem to be doubling down and refusing to admit defeat on their prior rebuild. It could be a frustrating few years ahead for them.
What in the world was John Schneider thinking by letting their ace, Gausman, struggle through a 53-pitch inning?
That was a horrible decision, imho.
Totally agreed. I think more pitcher injuries occur from innings with 25+ pitches than games with 100+ pitches.
The entire Toronto management team is 100% committed to self preservation and 0% committed to anything else.
Clip – I’m not saying what he did is right, but to answer your question he was probably thinking he didn’t want to go to the bullpen too soon because it was the first game of a DH and he anticipated heavy BP use that day.
Same reason why Cora left in Houck to give up 12 runs before pulling him with just one out in the 3rd inning.
Then have position players come in and mop up the last 2-3 innings. You have to manage for the entire season.
Houck was nowhere near 50 pitches for the inning when he got pulled. And he wasnt walking the ballpark either
bucs – I think you missed the part where I wrote “I’m not saying what he did was right”.
He was trying to save the bullpen. Innings are what matters in that situation, not pitch counts.
Clipper it is a result of the Jays bringing up a position player rather than a pitcher for a doubleheader while they are attempting to roll a 4-man rotation with the off days. Another prime example of roster mismanagement by an organization that consistently fails to address the holes on their roster. DonO is 100% correct.
Surprised to hear the cardinals got no votes
28 games in and the season is over? LOL grow up peter pan
No need to go all Captain Hook on the guy! Hahaha. I love calling grown men Peter Pan! Thank you sir.
Wow. Wonder if the White Sox got any votes.
It will be good to see the Top Three defensive outfielders in MLB all playing in the same series up in Toronto. There will be some serious leather in that series, looking forward to it!
Didn’t realize PCA is playing in Toronto.
Phree – DRS is generally the most popular way to rate defense.
fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&ind…
It seems Burr lacks iron sides.
This BJ offense is boring and deplorable. Gone are the days of Collabello, Edwing, Donaldson, and Joey Bats bringing terror into opponents.
So many of you guys chose them to win the division of the yankees.. why?
What? That’s laughable, there was no way they were going to win the division with the moves they made, and this is coming from a Jays fan
A career .220 hitter is not going to help the blue jays.
classic, someone looking at only batting average.
you don’t deserve a membership on this site.
@RussianFemboySportsFan
But, but, but batting average gives equal weight to different hits. A home run is the same thing as a single and walks aren’t counted as offensive production. That’s what makes batting average the bestest stat. :o)
I still look at batting average, homeruns and RBIs as my favourite stats. Supporting players can be good at the sabermetrics.
Defensive runs saved means nothing if you can’t score or still gave up 10 runs.
I would argue Randall Grichuk was a better overall player at the same age. When we traded for Varsho I thought we just acquired a left handed Randall Grichuk.
@Roughed Odor
Of course you would like RBI’s. They’re a lot less complicated than BA. Afterall, you can count them on your fingers. But here’s the thing, the batter has no way of influencing who gets on base ahead of him. The 3, 4, and 5 hitters have the best hitters getting on base ahead of them while the #1 hitter has the worst hitters ahead of him. My favourite thing about RBI’s is that by the rules, a player will not be rewarded an RBI if they hit into a double play because they don’t deserve it. Not really a good way of defining player performance is it.
DRS means a great deal. It quantities the defensive ability of a player.
Odor, a much quicker version of Grichuk. Thus far in the short season it’s clear the Jays can do with a better bat and no Varsho in CF despite his ability to run down balls in Centre.
Hey Lousy GM shapiro, how are the 1 year stop gap signings going so far ??
How are the BANDAID signings going so far ??
Top 5 payroll in baseball, HELLO LAST PLACE in the A.L. East….
Fire shapiro and His Lackie atkins,,,,!!
The jays needed the 40 man spot if they intend to call up Eric Lauer to spot start.