Blue Jays Manager Sends Daulton Varsho Contract Message

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TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 27: Daulton Varsho #5 of the Toronto Blue Jays runs to the dugout during a game against the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre on August 27, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

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The Toronto Blue Jays seem to have improved their run prevention after a World Series disappointment last year.

Shortly after falling in the extra innings of Game 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Blue Jays overhauled their pitching staff by bringing in Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers. Along with returns from Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber, the collection of arms has a chance to be one of the most effective in all of baseball next season.

And the infield defense stands to improve with Gold Glove Award winner Andres Gimenez moving over to shortstop as well.

But the offense might be a different story.

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Toronto Blue Jays’ Daulton Varsho Responds To Breakout Spring Training​

When Bo Bichette joined the New York Mets, the Blue Jays lost their total hits and RBI leader from last year. And with switch-hitting slugger Anthony Santander set to miss a large portion of the season after undergoing surgery, it’s fair to wonder who might help carry the batting order alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

If the team is going to return to the World Series, it will need another strong season from George Springer and a quick adjustment from Japanese veteran Kazuma Okamoto. And it will probably need a younger player to step up as well.

And after a torrid Spring Training, the most likely candidate appears to be outfielder Daulton Varsho.

In 19 preseason games, Varsho leads all Blue Jays with 12 runs, 19 hits, five home runs and 14 RBI. He’s also been the team’s leader in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

While he wouldn’t put too much stock into those numbers, Varsho indicated that he is looking forward to carrying his success into the regular season.

“I take Spring Training numbers with a grain of salt because it doesn’t really mean much until the lights turn on,” Varsho said, according to the Toronto Star’s Rosie DiManno. “But it’s nice to see that my approach is kind of lined up with the results, so that’s a positive for me.”

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Toronto Blue Jays’ John Schneider Sends ‘Contract Year’ Message On Daulton Varsho​

When asked to name his most valuable player of the spring, manager John Scneider selected four and notably omitted Varsho.

Schneider praised major league field coordinator Eric Duncan, reliever Brendon Little, Scherzer and Okamoto, according to The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon, but he refused to name Varsho as an MVP as he preferred to send a message about his upcoming contract negotiations instead.

“Gonna keep the carrot at the end of the stick, contract year for Daulton,” Schneider said, per Bannon. “He’s not getting all the awards right now, but he was pretty good.”

Varsho agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with the Blue Jays to avoid arbitration but he’s set for free agency next winter if the team doesn’t extend him. And if he’s able to carry the offense during the regular season the way that he has in Spring Training, he’ll earn a significant long-term deal from the Blue Jays or another team moving forward.

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