Atkins: Blue Jays "Definitely Have Interest" in Extending Daulton Varsho

[Leo Morgenstern]

Speaking to DiamondCentric's John Bonnes at the GM Meetings on Wednesday, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the Jays "definitely, definitely have interest" in extending Daulton Varsho, who is entering his final season of arbitration eligibility.

"The interest is definitely there," said Atkins. "I can't say enough about Daulton, the player, the person, the teammate. He checks all the boxes we're looking for."

The GM did not want to speak about any potential negotiations, but from his tone, it certainly seems like an extension for Varsho will be one of the team's priorities this winter.

Varsho, widely considered one of the best defensive outfielders in the league, is coming off an injury-shortened but highly promising 2025 campaign. Tapping into his power like never before, he hit 20 home runs in 71 contests, with a career-best .833 OPS, .341 xwOBA, and 123 wRC+. He finished with 2.2 fWAR and 2.8 bWAR in less than half a season of games. 

Featured image courtesy of Kiyoshi Mio, Imagn Images.

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[Angrioter]

....but didn't hit the fly to win the WS.

[jmomcc]

I don't know how his defense will age. But i guess it depends on how long the extension is. 

[Spanky__99]

Extend the man.

[Joltin Joe]

Plays so hard causes him to be He's injured too much for me. Only averages half a season 

[Laika]

19 minutes ago, Joltin Joe said:

Plays so hard causes him to be He's injured too much for me. Only averages half a season 

Not really. 592, 581, and 513 PA before 2025. The two significant injuries in has career were the shoulder surgery and big hamstring strain, both in 2025. 

[DonJays]

2 hours ago, jmomcc said:

I don't know how his defense will age. But i guess it depends on how long the extension is. 

His arm appears shot. I’d be ok with him for a couple years but he isn’t going to hold up over a long term deal 

[glory]

Yeah I'd be a little nervous on a longer term deal. If it's like 2026 and 3 more years after that, then fine, but if it's a 5-6 year deal, then it would definitely be risky given his profile and the fact that defense in a player's 30's is very likely to fall off.

A current minor leaguer developing into a 2027 CF option would be great, but not sure that exists in the current system. 

[G-Snarls]

Kirk level contract at most, even though I really like the guy 

[jmomcc]

34 minutes ago, glory said:

Yeah I'd be a little nervous on a longer term deal. If it's like 2026 and 3 more years after that, then fine, but if it's a 5-6 year deal, then it would definitely be risky given his profile and the fact that defense in a player's 30's is very likely to fall off.

A current minor leaguer developing into a 2027 CF option would be great, but not sure that exists in the current system. 

They should try clement there in spring training. 

[max silver]

1 hour ago, DonJays said:

His arm appears shot. I’d be ok with him for a couple years but he isn’t going to hold up over a long term deal 

His arm strength was slowly recovering as the season unfolded. In the post season Daulton was able to really air out his throws although I don't think he's recovered all of the lost velocity yet.

[Terminator]

FA is so weak next year. Varsho might be the top position player.

If I'm him it would be awfully tempting to play the year out. He's going to get 10M in his final year of arb which is a nice security blanket if everything goes to hell for him.

But if he stays healthy it seems like 30 homers and a gold glove are both attainable and if he did that he'd get PAID.

 

[Laika]

Varsho is weird for value / free agency 

Defense dependent, volatile player 

Will only get like $10M in his final arb salary

Reminds me of Harrison Bader who I think just goes year to year for $10M at this point 

Or Tyler O'Neill, different profiles but similar kind of risk vs upside profile. That was 3/$49.5M

KK is another similar player. Was extended by TBR so he was older in FA, but I don't think he ever earned more than $11M AAV 

Should be able to extend this little butt plug for like 4/$40M to be quite honest 

[Spanky__99]

31 minutes ago, Laika said:

Varsho is weird for value / free agency 

Defense dependent, volatile player 

Will only get like $10M in his final arb salary

Reminds me of Harrison Bader who I think just goes year to year for $10M at this point 

Or Tyler O'Neill, different profiles but similar kind of risk vs upside profile. That was 3/$49.5M

KK is another similar player. Was extended by TBR so he was older in FA, but I don't think he ever earned more than $11M AAV 

Should be able to extend this little butt plug for like 4/$40M to be quite honest 

Bader declined his 10M option, fyi.

[John_Havok]

2 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

Bader declined his 10M option, fyi.

Yes, but he'd probably sign a 4/40 deal in a heartbeat. Lots of guys decline their 1 year deals of x amount and end up signing multi-year deals for a lower AAV. They value the longer term security more. 

[Spanky__99]

Just now, John_Havok said:

Yes, but he'd probably sign a 4/40 deal in a heartbeat. Lots of guys decline their 1 year deals of x amount and end up signing multi-year deals for a lower AAV. They value the longer term security more. 

Thanks, tips. lol

 

[Brownie19]

3 hours ago, Laika said:

Varsho is weird for value / free agency 

Defense dependent, volatile player 

Will only get like $10M in his final arb salary

Reminds me of Harrison Bader who I think just goes year to year for $10M at this point 

Or Tyler O'Neill, different profiles but similar kind of risk vs upside profile. That was 3/$49.5M

KK is another similar player. Was extended by TBR so he was older in FA, but I don't think he ever earned more than $11M AAV 

Should be able to extend this little butt plug for like 4/$40M to be quite honest 

Varsho's floor is like 2 WAR and the ceiling is 5 WAR.  a 4/$40M extension would be a steal.

[Laika]

32 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Varsho's floor is like 2 WAR and the ceiling is 5 WAR.  a 4/$40M extension would be a steal.

Yes but 

[Jonn]

The most that should be discussed is 3 or 4 years. Obviously there should be interest in bringing him back. Something like 4 years and 50-60 million on the high end.

[Ray]

Doubt this is going to happen given he is a Boras client. 

[Terminator]

7 minutes ago, Ray said:

Doubt this is going to happen given he is a Boras client. 

Spotrac says his agent is ISE

[G-Snarls]

9 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Spotrac says his agent is ISE

As does BBREF

[Eat My Shatkins]

I think they'll get something done. He obviously really likes it with the Jays org, and they have clearly made it a priority to solidify defense through the middle of the diamond. Get him locked in and you are set for a few years with Kirk, Giminez and Varsho down the middle with elite defense. He also unlocked some power and if he is really a 120 wRC+ bat it's not a guy you want to let go. Even with a league average bat he's a keeper at the right price.

[Ray]

17 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Spotrac says his agent is ISE

Boras’s official IG account follows Varsho, and that account was reposting his highlights all throughout the season/playoffs like they did with all his clients.
 

Also, there’s this:

I think BBRef and Spotrac are just outdated. 

[Eat My Shatkins]

That sucks. Now that I know Varsho is a Boras client, I doubt any extension gets done.

 

[bronson44]

I don't know what to believe

[glory]

If Varsho is a Boras client, then he's heading to free agency, so this whole discussion is pointless. This is the first I've heard of him being a Boras guy though. 

[Joltin Joe]

I would trade Varsho for front of rotation controllable pitcher. Allows us to sign both Bo and Kyle Tucker. Vlad/Tucker/Bichette middle of lineup is murderers row. 

Myles Straw is Gold Glove Joey is decent in center also. But upgrade from Lukes to Tucker is huge. 

Add a starter pushing Bieber to 4th starter. You have Bieber as 4th starter is great rotation. Berrios as 5th. Lauer gives bullpen depth. 

[Stangstag]

6 hours ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

That sucks. Now that I know Varsho is a Boras client, I doubt any extension gets done.

 

That’s not how it works though, if the player wants an extension/wants to stay then they will. Varsho is not a premier free agent.

[jmomcc]

3 hours ago, Joltin Joe said:

I would trade Varsho for front of rotation controllable pitcher. Allows us to sign both Bo and Kyle Tucker. Vlad/Tucker/Bichette middle of lineup is murderers row. 

Myles Straw is Gold Glove Joey is decent in center also. But upgrade from Lukes to Tucker is huge. 

Add a starter pushing Bieber to 4th starter. You have Bieber as 4th starter is great rotation. Berrios as 5th. Lauer gives bullpen depth. 

I can't really think of how this would work. Like who has a front of a rotation pitcher who would need a CF that badly?