Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden thinks the Blue Jays need to think big at the 2026 trade deadline, and that means being open to moving Louis Varland.
Bowden said on Sportsnet 590 The FAN that Toronto should at least listen if the return is strong enough. “I think if you can get three or four young pieces for Varland, I would absolutely consider it If I were Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins.”
That kind of move would be a major one. Varland has been one of Toronto’s best players in 2026, his first full season with the club after arriving at last year’s deadline from the Minnesota Twins.
He has been flawless in save chances, going 23-for-23 since taking over as the team’s closer from Jeff Hoffman. In 55 innings, he has given up just six earned runs, struck out 73 hitters, walked 14 and allowed only one home run.
The season has already earned him an All-Star nod, and if he keeps his ERA under 1.00, he could even draw some down-ballot Cy Young support. Dylan Cease, though, is seen as the more realistic Blue Jays candidate for that award.
So why would Toronto even consider dealing someone performing at that level? The answer is the return. Varland is under team control through 2030, which makes him inexpensive for years, and elite relievers on the open market can cost more than $15 million annually.
Bowden pointed to Mason Miller as the obvious benchmark. When the Athletics dealt Miller to the San Diego Padres last summer, they landed a package led by Leo De Vries, who is now the second-ranked prospect in baseball. The question is whether Toronto could get something close to that.
That said, the market may not be that simple. Padres GM AJ Preller is known for pushing harder than most front offices, and Bowden noted that many general managers would not have made a deal like that one for Miller.
Even so, Varland could still bring back a significant haul from a contender with a strong farm system. The Milwaukee Brewers, for instance, would have to decide whether he could be the piece that helps build a super-bullpen and finally push them through.
There is also another angle for Toronto: a return built around help for 2027. If the Blue Jays believe they can contend then, a controllable starting pitcher and a young bat might fit better than a closer. Bowden also pointed to Tyler Rogers as evidence that top relievers can be found in free agency if a team is willing to pay.
The risk, of course, is volatility. Bullpen arms can swing wildly from year to year, and Varland could be the best closer in the American League again next season, or he could slide back toward his 2025 form. Injury is part of that equation, too.
That is why his value may never be higher than it is right now. For Toronto, the deadline decision is less about what Varland has been and more about whether this is the moment to cash in.
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