The Blue Jays may not be locked into selling at the trade deadline, but the direction of the season is hard to ignore. Toronto sits in last place in the AL East and trails a Wild Card spot by 5.5 games, which puts impending free agents squarely in the conversation if the front office decides to move pieces.
One name that keeps popping up is Daulton Varsho. ESPN’s David Schoenfield connected the Gold Glove center fielder to a possible return to Arizona, where he spent the first three seasons of his career.
"Similarly to the Tigers, if the Blue Jays decide to deal, [Daulton] Varsho is another one of their free agents whom they could move," Schoenfield wrote. "He's a premium defender in center field with a below-average bat -- after hitting 20 home runs in just 248 at-bats last year, he has seven in 324 this year."
Varsho’s bat has taken a step back this season, but his glove still gives him real value. In 96 games, he’s hitting .247/.308/.383 with a .691 OPS after posting a career-high .833 OPS in 2025. The offensive dip is part of why he’s being viewed as a movable piece if Toronto shifts into sell mode.
Arizona also makes sense on need alone. Schoenfield noted that the Diamondbacks have pushed into a wild-card position and could use help in both the lineup and rotation.
"The Diamondbacks have played themselves into a wild-card position and could use both a hitter and a starting pitcher," Schoenfield added. "Varsho looks like the right fit for them, as they've started four different players in center field just in July."
Varsho’s background with the Diamondbacks adds another layer to the fit. Before becoming a full-time outfielder, he made 82 appearances at catcher for Arizona from 2020-22. That versatility is no longer part of his defensive profile, though, with center field now his calling card.
A deal wouldn’t suddenly turn Arizona into a World Series favorite, but it would give them a clear answer in center field. And right now, that’s exactly the kind of stability they appear to need.
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