Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Shows off wheels Friday
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Varsho went 2-for-3 with a walk, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
The 26-year-old pulled a pitch from Phillies closing candidate Gregory Soto into the right-field corner in the second inning and slid into third without a throw. Varsho hit sixth in the batting order, which isn't ideal for his fantasy value, but his production could still take a step forward as he focuses on playing the outfield rather than splitting his time at catcher as well. He's gone 10-for-46 (.217) this spring with a home run and two stolen bases.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Viewed as emergency catcher
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Varsho isn't expected to see any work at catcher during Grapefruit League play but will handle some bullpen sessions behind the plate, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
The 26-year-old saw action in 31 games at catcher last season with Arizona before being dealt to Toronto in December, but the Blue Jays plan to deploy Varsho as their starting left fielder rather than having him bounce between positions. It's possible he sees some late-game action behind the plate in an emergency, but in all likelihood he will lose his catcher eligibility in most fantasy leagues heading into 2024. The tradeoff could be a better offensive performance after he posted a .745 OPS with a career-high 27 home runs and 16 stolen bases over 151 games last year.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Getting green light in Toronto
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Varsho was highlighted as a player who could steal more bases in 2023 by Blue Jays manager John Schneider on Thursday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Toronto was more aggressive on the basepaths after Schneider took over last season, but rule changes to increase the size of the bases and limit pickoff attempts could see the Jays running wild in 2023. "We definitely have the personnel that can do that," Schneider said this week. "It's something I've always liked, not just stealing bases but being aggressive first-to-third, first-to-home or second-to-home. Those are the things that we'll be focused on." Varsho stole 16 bases on 22 attempts in 2022 for Arizona, but a leap to 25 steals or more isn't out of the question for the 26-year-old given the style of offense Schneider is pushing for.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Inks deal for 2023
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Varsho agreed to a one-year, $3.05 million contract with the Blue Jays on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Recently acquired by the Blue Jays from the Diamondbacks, Varsho was able to come to terms with his new team in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 26-year-old had a .235/.302/.443 slash line with 27 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 151 games last season, and he's expected to open 2023 as Toronto's primary left fielder.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Acquired by Toronto
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Varsho was acquired by the Blue Jays from the Diamondbacks on Friday in exchange for Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel.
During his first full MLB season in 2022, Varsho compiled a .235/.302/.443 slash line with 27 home runs, 74 RBI and 16 stolen bases. He helps to balance out a right-handed heavy Toronto lineup and will also offer a big defensive upgrade in left field, with the versatility to play center field when Kevin Kiermaier isn't available. Varsho retains catcher eligibility in most fantasy leagues heading into 2023, but Toronto's depth at the position suggests he's probably not going to play much, if at all, behind the plate. The 26-year-old is under team control through 2026.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Records steal in loss
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Varsho went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
Varsho has turned up the speed late in the season, recording five of his 15 steals this year in his last 12 games. That's despite hitting just .184 in that span, as his hitting has slumped late in the campaign. The 26-year-old still has a .239/.307/.451 slash line with 27 home runs, 73 RBI, 79 runs scored, 23 doubles and three triples across 148 games, and he's often hit in the upper third of the order despite his recent struggles.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Heads to bench Saturday
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Varsho isn't in the lineup Saturday against San Francisco.
Varsho started the last five games and went 3-for-19 with a home run, a double, four runs, two RBI and two stolen bases. He'll get a breather while Corbin Carroll starts in center field and bats seventh.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Solo shot in loss
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Varsho went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Tuesday's loss against the Astros.
With Arizona down 8-1 in the eighth inning, Varsho crushed a hanging curveball from reliever Phil Maton into the seats in right field to reduce the deficit to 8-2. The long ball was Varsho's ninth this month. After hitting just 11 home runs in 95 games last season, Varsho is now up to 27 over 144 games this season.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Takes seat Friday
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Varsho is not in Friday's lineup against the Giants.
Varsho will head to the bench with lefty Carlos Rodon starting for San Francisco. He had started seven of the last eight games, including three starts against lefties.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: On bench versus lefty in nightcap
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Varsho isn't starting in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers.
Varsho went 2-for-5 in the first game of Tuesday's twin bill with his 26th homer and 11th steal of the season, but he'll begin the second game in the dugout with lefty Tyler Anderson starting for Los Angeles. Jordan Luplow will pick up the start in right field for Varsho and bat seventh.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Heads to bench versus lefty
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Varsho is not in the lineup Thursday against the Padres, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Left-hander Sean Manaea will start Thursday's contest for San Diego, so the lefty-hitting Varsho will begin the game on the bench. In Varsho's place, Jordan Luplow will start in right field and bat sixth in the order.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: September power surge continues
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Varsho went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Dodgers.
September is swat month for Varsho, whose first-inning solo homer was his seventh in 11 games since Sept. 3. He's up to 25 home runs, seven more than the previous career high he set in 2019 with Double-A Jackson. Scouts pegged Varsho with average power (50-grade) when he was drafted but saw room for growth with a natural ability to generate backspin; the 26-year-old is tapping into the power stroke evaluators saw in him back in 2017.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Sitting against lefty
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Varsho is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Dodgers.
Varsho -- and his .572 OPS against LHP -- will get the day off Monday as the Dodgers will start with southpaw Tyler Anderson on the mound. Jake McCarthy will take his place in right field and Stone Garrett will serve as Arizona's designated hitter, batting sixth.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Hits grand slam
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Varsho went 1-for-4 with a grand slam and a stolen base in a 13-10 loss to the Rockies on Friday.
Varsho came up to the plate with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth and sent the offering over the right field wall for his first career grand slam. Varsho has been on fire lately and now has six homers over seven games played in September. He also stole his ninth base of the season and is on pace for a 25-homer, 10-steal campaign.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Swats two more homers
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Varsho went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Padres.
Varsho went deep twice off Yu Darvish in this contest. An impressive start to September for Varsho continues -- he's hit five homers in his last five games. The 26-year-old is up to 23 long balls this year while adding 64 RBI, 66 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a .243/.311/.457 slash line through 497 plate appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Goes deep again
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Varsho went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Padres.
Varsho's picked up the power pace in September with three homers in his last 17 at-bats. The 26-year-old has gone yard 22 times this year while adding 63 RBI, 65 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a .241/.310/.443 slash line through 124 contests.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Retreats to bench Monday
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Varsho isn't starting Monday against the Padres.
Varsho homered in the last two games, going 3-for-7 with two homers, three RBI, a walk and a strikeout across that span. The 26-year-old will rest while Jake McCarthy draws the start in right field and bats sixth.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Clubs 20th homer, saves run
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Varsho went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 5-1 win over Milwaukee.
Varsho led off the bottom of the third inning by clubbing his 20th home run and second in as many days. An inning earlier in the field, he tracked a Tyrone Taylor shot headed for the fence in right-center field to preserve Zac Gallen's scoreless innings streak. With 26 starts behind the plate, Varsho may qualify as a catcher in most leagues next season, but he's turned himself into an elite outfield defender (13 OAA) and will likely make a home in right field in 2023.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Homers in return
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Varsho started in right field and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Saturday's 8-6 loss to the Brewers.
Varsho returned to the lineup Saturday after a rest day Friday. The homer was his 19th of the year and third over the last eight games. He'll likely get occasional days off going forward, as manager Torey Lovullo juggles a crowded outfield.
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Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho: Out of Friday's lineup
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Varsho is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.
Varsho is 0-for-8 with three strikeouts over the past two contests and will take a seat Friday. Corbin Carroll will shift to right field while Stone Garrett starts in left.
