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Report: Financial breakdown of Blue Jays’ Hoffman, Varsho and Taillon trades
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Photo credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Thomas Hall
Aug 7, 2026, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 7, 2026, 12:49 EDT
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The financial details surrounding this week’s Jeff Hoffman, Daulton Varsho and Jameson Taillon trades have been revealed, according to a recent report from the Associated Press.
Leading up to Monday’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays completed six trades as part of the franchise’s hybrid buy-and-sell, with half of those deals including salary retention. Here are the reported figures from those moves:
  • The Chicago Cubs are covering almost the entirety of Taillon’s remaining salary of $5,390,374, according to the AP’s report, agreeing to send $4,956,791 in cash. As part of the trade, the Blue Jays are sending a player to be named later for the recently DFA’d hurler.
  • Toronto will be on the hook for $3.75 million of Hoffman’s $11 million base salary in 2027, assuming a portion of the final season of his three-year, $33 million contract. But they aren’t sending any cash to help with this year’s salary, as Minnesota’s brass will pay the $3,235,294 left owed to him.
  • The Blue Jays are paying $1,609,626 of Varsho’s remaining salary from this season, with the Astros responsible for the other half of his prorated $3,161,765 amount. He’ll become a free agent this winter after earning $10.75 million in his final arbitration season.
Acquired on the eve of deadline day, Taillon made his Blue Jays debut in Wednesday’s series finale against the Astros, earning a no-decision after allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four in as many innings. The 34-year-old hurler, who holds dual citizenship with both of his parents born in Canada, is in the final season of his four-year, $68 million contract and will reach free agency this off-season.
At the time of this deal, which arrived Sunday afternoon, the veteran’s arrival appeared as rotation insurance with Kevin Gausman — whose deal didn’t include cash considerations — Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer all reportedly on the trade block as pending free agents. But since only one of those three ended up being moved, there were questions about where the former Cub would fit in.
Multiple injuries, however, have since provided an answer.
Only a few hours after manager John Schneider announced plans for a six-man rotation in Houston on Tuesday, rookie Trey Yesavage departed with a left knee injury before the third inning — later revealed as a meniscus injury that may require surgery. Then, with Spencer Arrighetti (acquired in the Varsho deal) starting a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, the oft-injured righty had to leave due to injury with one out in the third.
As a result, Taillon — whom the Cubs organization is paying all but roughly $400,000 to play for another team — has now become part of the glue that’s keeping this Blue Jays rotation together, and stopping them from having to fill that spot with bullpen games again.
By sending cash in the Hoffman and Varsho deals, Toronto’s front office was able to procure vastly improved returns, particularly for their former closer, which netted three prospects from Minnesota’s system — the most notable being left-hander Dasan Hill, who’s instantly become one of the most intriguing arms in their pipeline.

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