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Blue Jays: Extending Daulton Varsho is a must this off-season
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Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Nov 30, 2025, 19:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 30, 2025, 19:33 EST
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One priority that has gone under the radar for the Toronto Blue Jays this season is re-signing Daulton Varsho.
It’s been noted what their needs were entering this season. Signing a starting pitcher was the biggest priority, and they filled that need by signing Dylan Cease on Wednesday. Other needs include adding a bat (either Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker) and a high-leverage reliever or two.
Varsho has one more season of arbitration and is expected to earn $9.7 million this off-season, according to MLB Trade Rumors. At the conclusion of the 2026 season, he’ll enter free agency. Simply put, the Blue Jays cannot allow this to happen.
The centre fielder’s 2025 season will be remembered for the last two games played in the World Series, where he had so many opportunities to cash in much-needed runs. Sadly, his great 2025 season (when healthy) is going to be forgotten, which is a shame. It’s a similar case with Jeff Hoffman and the postseason he had, as his 2025 season will be remembered because of the home run he surrendered to Miguel Rojas.
Still, Varsho needs to be extended as soon as possible. Varsho will begin the 2026 season as a 29-year-old, but he’s still got plenty of years of being an important player in him. His defence in centre field alone is a reason for the Blue Jays to re-sign him, as he had 10 Defensive Runs Saved, 9 Outs Above Average, and 6 Fielding Run Value in just 550.1 innings in centre field last season.
Due to injuries, it’s down from past years, as Varsho finished with at least 20 DRS in the outfield in the past three seasons, as well as two seasons with an OAA above 14. Even with an injury-filled 2025 season, Varsho’s 85 DRS, 50 OAA, and 52 FRV all rank first in the big leagues for outfielders over the past four seasons. He’s simply in a class of his own in terms of outfield defence since Kevin Kiermaier retired.
There’s also the fact that Varsho was incredibly effective with the bat in 2025. Varsho is never going to be a player who hits for a high average. Last season, he slashed .238/.284/.548 with a 6.3 BB% and 28.4 K%. Yet, he finished with a 123 wRC+, the highest of his career.
Why? Well, the left-handed batter has significant power in his bat. In just 271 plate appearances last season, Varsho hit 20 home runs, fourth on the team only behind Addison Barger (21), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (23), and George Springer (32).
It wasn’t a fluke either. Varsho mashed in Spring Training, hitting four home runs in 37 plate appearances. In his minor league rehab assignments, he hit three home runs in 50 plate appearances. It wasn’t until the postseason that he was slowed down, and even then, he hit three home runs in 81 plate appearances.
Six years into his big league career, everyone knows the type of player Varsho is: He’ll strike out and hit for a low average, but also hit home runs and play incredible defence. You absolutely take that trade-off, solely for his defence.
At one point, the Blue Jays had only given out two extensions in the Ross Atkins/Mark Shapiro era: extension of Randal Grichuk early in the 2019 season and José Berríos at the conclusion of the 2021 season. That changed in a span of two weeks, as the Jays extended Alejandro Kirk for five years and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for 14 years. It wouldn’t be surprising if Varsho is the next player on that list.
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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