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Throwback Thursday: Revisiting the Daulton Varsho trade between the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 19, 2025, 19:30 EDTUpdated: Jun 19, 2025, 18:04 EDT
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One of the more notable trades in recent Toronto Blue Jays history was with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
On Thursday, the Blue Jays played their series finale with the National League West team, with one of the players involved in the game. Two days before Christmas in 2022, the Blue Jays sent top prospect Gabriel Moreno and long-time Blue Jays Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to the Diamondbacks for Daulton Varsho.
In this edition, let’s take a look at how that trade has aged. If you missed last week’s Throwback Thursday, we looked at their matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1993 World Series.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Gurriel Jr. signed with the Blue Jays in 2016 and made his debut in 2018. That season saw him become the first rookie since 2011 to have 10 or more consecutive multi-hit games. The 2019 season was his breakout season, as Gurriel hit 20 home runs and finished with a 125 wRC+ and a 1.7. In the COVID-shortened season, Gurriel hit 11 home runs and finished with a 134 wRC+, his best of his career.
The 2021 season saw Gurriel Jr. hit a then-career-high 21 home runs, finishing with a 1.8 fWAR and a 107 wRC+. In his final season with the Blue Jays, Gurriel Jr.’s power disappeared due to injury, hitting just five home runs in 493 plate appearances.
After the trade, Gurriel slashed .261/.309/.463 with a career-best 24 home runs in 592 plate appearances, giving him a 2 fWAR and a 105 wRC+. In the postseason, the outfielder slashed .273/.290/455 with three home runs in 70 plate appearances as the Diamondbacks won the National League pennant.
Gurriel Jr.’s contract ended after the 2024 season, but he re-signed with the Diamondbacks. He’s reverted to his career norm, hitting 18 home runs in 553 plate appearances in 2024 for a 108 wRC+. So far in 2025, Gurriel Jr. is slashing .257/.303/.430 with 10 home runs in 290 plate appearances.

Gabriel Moreno

Thanks to a terrific start to his 2021 season, where he hit eight home runs in 145 plate appearances in Double-A, Moreno quickly became one of the best prospects in baseball. In 2022, Moreno slashed .315/.386/.420 with three home runs in 267 plate appearances with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. The catcher also made his big league debut that season, slashing .319/.356/.377 with a home run in 73 plate appearances.
At the time of the trade on December 23, 2022, Moreno ranked as the seventh-best prospect in baseball. The Jays had a logjam of catchers with Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen occupying 26-man roster spots, hence the trade.
After the trade, Moreno slashed .284/.339/.408 with seven home runs in 380 plate appearances, giving him a 102 wRC+ and a 2.3 fWAR. His strong defence behind the plate earned him his first Gold Glove, and he was a big piece during their run to the World Series. That postseason, Moreno slashed .238/.304/.444 with four home runs in 70 plate appearances for a 100 wRC+.
Last season, Moreno slashed .266/.353/.380 with five home runs in 351 plate appearances for a 107 wRC+ and a 2.5 fWAR. So far in 2025, the catcher is slashing .270/.324/.414 with five home runs in 188 plate appearances for a 106 wRC+ and a 2 fWAR.

Daulton Varsho

When the Blue Jays made the trade, they desperately needed a left-handed batting outfielder. Enter Daulton Varsho, who hit 27 home runs while slashing .235/.302/.443 for a 106 wRC+ and a 4.4 fWAR thanks to strong defence.
Varsho hasn’t quite found the same success in the power department since joining the Blue Jays. In 2022, the outfielder slashed .220/.285/.389 with 20 home runs in 581 plate appearances, giving him an 85 wRC+ and a 2.1 fWAR thanks to strong defence in the outfield. Last season, Varsho slashed .214/.293/.407 with 18 home runs in 513 plate appearances for a 99 wRC+ and a 3.3 fWAR. On top of that, Varsho won his first Gold Glove award.
Toward the end of the 2024 season, Varsho required shoulder surgery that kept him on the Injured List to start the 2025 season. Once he returned, Varsho slashed .207/.240/.543 with eight home runs in just 100 plate appearances, kick-starting the great run the Blue Jays have been on in the past month and a half.

What to make of the trade?

It’s fair to say that this trade has been a win for both teams. The Diamondbacks went to the 2023 World Series thanks to big performances from Moreno and Gurriel Jr. Both players have found a home in the organization.
As for the Jays, they received arguably the best defensive outfielder in the league with some power potential. Although Varsho hasn’t reached the 27-home run mark in his first two seasons as a Jay, his torrid start to the 2025 season is a sign of encouragement.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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