The Toronto Blue Jays made it all the way to the World Series last season and will look to build off that this season.
Toronto will once again be active on the trade front throughout the season, and one area of need could be in the outfield. Daulton Varsho is off to a slow start, and with him being a free agent, the Blue Jays could look to find his replacement.
MLB analyst Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report connected the Blue Jays to a potential move for Byron Buxton from the Minnesota Twins.
“Byron Buxton proclaimed himself a “Twin for life” a couple of weeks before last year’s trade deadline, but he couldn’t have known then that the franchise was headed for a downward spiral,” Rymer wrote. “On it goes, with the Twins off to a 1-3 start after crashing out at the end of 2025. And since Buxton was reportedly willing (per ESPN’s Jeff Passan) to waive his no-trade clause over the winter, he should be considered a top trade name for the summer market.
“Buxton’s injury history shouldn’t require elaboration at this point. That might be what keeps his market from taking off. When he is healthy, though, he’s a superstar-caliber player on both sides of the ball. To wit, here are Buxton’s numbers on a per-162 basis since 2021: 6.3 rWAR, 35 home runs and 19 stolen bases, with a 134 OPS+. Potential Landing Spots: Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers.”
The Blue Jays trading for Buxton would be a stunning move, as he would be an upgrade over Varsho at the plate and is a solid defender.
Buxton Would Come With Questions
Although Buxton is an elite outfielder, there would be some question marks around him due to his injuries.
Buxton, however, would come with control for the Blue Jays, as he has two more years after this one on his seven-year, $100 million deal. At just $15.1 million per season, it’s also a great contract for Toronto to have and let Buxton roam center field for the next two-and-a-half seasons.
However, Toronto could also move Buxton to a corner outfield, to take some pressure off his body if the Blue Jays keep Varsho. That would only strengthen the Blue Jays’ outfield defense, and he could then be a replacement for George Springer, who’s in the final year of his deal.
Buxton is a two-time MLB All-Star.
Varsho Hopeful to Remain With Blue Jays
Toronto made a bold move to acquire Varsho from the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022, and he’s been a key player for the Blue Jays since then.
But with Varsho entering the final year of his deal, his future with the Blue Jays is uncertain. Yet, entering the season, he said he hopes to remain in Toronto.
“It’s been a blessing for me to be here. I’ve learned a lot about myself. It’s an honor to put on this jersey because you’re playing for a full country,” Varsho said. “Obviously, we’ll see what happens. I’d love to stay here. My family enjoys it, but obviously it’s a business, so you take it with a grain of salt and go enjoy it, have fun, be the best player I can be and help my teammates.”
Varsho is a one-time Gold Glove Award winner.
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