Daulton Varsho will endure surgical procedure to restore a rotator cuff damage in his proper shoulder, he tells Hazel Mae (X hyperlink). Toronto supervisor John Schneider advised the Toronto beat (relayed on X by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com) that the Jays may have a clearer timeline as soon as Varsho completes the process. Schneier didn’t rule out the likelihood that the rehab course of carries into subsequent 12 months’s Spring Coaching.
That brings an early finish to the outfielder’s second 12 months in Toronto. Varsho hit .214/.293/.407 with 18 homers, 21 doubles and 7 triples by means of 513 plate appearances. That’s league common offensive manufacturing, by measure of wRC+, with Varsho’s energy serving to to offset the poor on-base mark. It’s a greater 12 months than he had in 2023, when he hit .220/.285/.389 regardless of offense being increased across the league than it has been this season.
Varsho could not recapture the 27-homer type that he confirmed throughout his last season with the Diamondbacks. He can nonetheless be a really productive participant even with league common offense. The previous catcher has developed into one of many sport’s premier defensive outfielders. Varsho had unbelievable marks for his 672 innings of heart discipline work and his 400+ frames in left discipline. Statcast has him tied for second amongst outfielders (behind Washington’s Jacob Younger) in Outs Above Common. Defensive Runs Saved credited Varsho with an unbelievable 28 runs above common — not solely the very best in MLB however 5 runs away from second-place Jarren Duran.
These defensive metrics ought to earn Varsho his first Gold Glove. He’ll go into subsequent season as Toronto’s on a regular basis heart fielder if he’s wholesome. Any sort of offseason setback may put that unsure, however for now, there’s no indication the Jays might want to look outdoors the group for heart discipline assist.
Nathan Lukes, who has taken over in heart, appears like a strong fourth outfielder. He’d be an possibility to choose up some early-season begins if Varsho falls delayed. George Springer has loads of heart discipline expertise however he has solely performed one sport there this season. As he enters his age-35 season, Springer appears firmly dedicated to proper discipline.
Varsho is below workforce management for one more two seasons. He made $5.65MM in his second of 4 years of arbitration. He’ll doubtless land someplace within the $8-10MM vary subsequent 12 months.
