Louis Varland has turned himself into the most reliable arm the Toronto Blue Jays have, and the numbers behind his 2026 season are starting to look historic.
The right-hander was named an All-Star for the first time after a first half that put him in a class of his own. If the American League has a lead in the ninth inning in Philadelphia on July 14th, Varland should be the one waiting to take the ball.
Toronto’s season has gone off the rails in 2026, but Varland has been the rare constant. He entered Monday with only five earned runs allowed in 47 innings, along with 65 strikeouts and just 13 walks. That works out to a 0.96 ERA and a 1.45 FIP, the kind of line that makes a bullpen look unfair.
The deeper metrics back it up, too. Varland sits in the 95th percentile or better in xERA, strikeout rate, groundball rate, and barrel percentage. He’s doing the two things elite relievers usually specialize in - missing bats and pounding the ball into the ground - at the same time.
That’s a big leap from where this story started. When the Blue Jays got Varland and Ty France at the 2025 trade deadline from the Minnesota Twins for pitching prospect Kendry Rojas and rookie Alan Roden, they were betting on a pitcher who was already breaking out. The Twins had moved him to the bullpen full-time after a rough 2024, when he posted a 7.61 ERA in 16 appearances, seven of them as a starter.
The move changed everything. Before the trade to Toronto, Varland had a 2.02 ERA and 1.102 WHIP in 49 innings for Minnesota.
But his first stretch with the Blue Jays was more ordinary than dominant, as he finished the regular season with a 4.94 ERA in 23 appearances down the stretch. He then became a workhorse in the postseason, setting an MLB record by pitching 15 times during Toronto’s run to the World Series.
This season, though, he has taken another step. He didn’t open the year as the closer, but he earned the job after Jeff Hoffman blew several saves in March and April. Since then, Varland has been perfect in save chances, going 18-for-18.
That’s why the comparisons are getting louder. With all due respect to Tom Henke and B.J.
Ryan, Varland is challenging the standard for what a Blue Jays reliever can be. He’s even in the conversation for Cy Young votes alongside teammate Dylan Cease.
For now, the only reliever in his neighborhood is San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller, who began the season as the clear top name at the position. In the American League, Varland stands alone.
And Toronto has him locked in through 2030. For a team that has had plenty go wrong, the Varland trade is looking like one of the best moves in Blue Jays history.
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The reason for the leave was as heartbreaking as it gets, with the loss tied to a family trip to San Francisco during the Blue Jays series there. Fisher has returned to the team, though he still remains on bereavement status, and the personal toll of the past stretch is now part of the backdrop as Toronto moves on without one of its most dependable relievers fully in the fold. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Just Got A Trade Deadline Answer Fans May Hate
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One suggested path would bring in a versatile right-handed hitter who can cover multiple spots and supply moderate power, the sort of player who helps in a lot of ways without necessarily solving the biggest problem. That is where the hesitation starts for Toronto, because a steady regular is not always enough when the lineup needs impact more than depth, and the cost of settling for merely solid could be a tough sell to fans expecting a real jolt. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Romano Is Back In The Majors With Something To Prove
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The timing matters because Romanos recent stops with the Phillies and Angels did not go well, leaving him with plenty to prove every time he takes the mound. He has already been used in back-to-back games for Colorado and logged a save against the Giants, a useful first step for a pitcher whose path back to relevance is still being written. [Read more 🡒]