HOUSTON (AP) — Daulton Varsho was taking swings in the visitors' batting cage at Daikin Park early Monday before the start of a series against the Houston Astros when he was called into Toronto manager John Schneider's office.
It was then that Varsho learned he was on a new team and he'd have an incredibly short trip to join that squad.
The first-place Astros acquired the center fielder from the Blue Jays for starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti just
before the trade deadline. A couple of hours later, Varsho finished his pregame preparations by taking swings in the home batting cage.
“It was definitely weird going from that cage to this cage,” Varsho said, shaking his head.
The AL West leaders wasted no time putting Varsho in the lineup. Houston manager Joe Espada had him batting cleanup against his former team Monday night.
“This clubhouse is awesome,” Varsho said of the Astros. “They’re great, great people, they’re excited. So that’s the best part for me is I get to join a team that’s very excited to have me and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Varsho, a Gold Glove winner in 2024, provides a big boost in the outfield for the Astros, who with a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers last weekend took over the division lead for the first time since early April. Houston went from a half-game deficit to a 2 1/2-game lead after the weekend series.
“Excited to add Varsho to our lineup,” Espada said. “He fits a hole that we’ve had here for a while. He brings a different dynamic to our offense, can really play center field, lefty bat. This guy was in the World Series not that long ago, so he knows what it takes.”
Espada said he plans to play Varsho only in center field and raved about his skills on offense and defense.
“He’s got some juice,” Espada said. “I think his power will play really well in this ballpark. He can run, can steal some bases. He’s a plus defender in center, so those are things that will fit right in.”
In 99 games this season, Varsho has hit .243 with seven homers and 26 RBIs. He had 20 homers in 71 big league games last season for the Blue Jays, who are last in the AL East after winning the American League pennant in 2025.
Varsho became emotional when talking about his time with the Blue Jays and added that it was disappointing they couldn't get things going this season after last year's surprising run.
“I’m in a better place now after a couple of hours just kind of getting my breath, kind of understanding where I’m at,” he said. “But, obviously wish those guys the best, because I really do care for a lot of those guys, especially the coaches and, yeah, it's just hard.”
Varsho is a .229 career hitter with 106 homers and 321 RBIs in 747 games for Arizona and Toronto since his 2020 debut. He can become a free agent this fall.
Arrighetti, on the 15-day injured list because of nerve irritation in his right foot, is 7-5 with a 4.60 ERA in 17 starts this season. The 26-year-old right-hander, who grew up in Texas, is 15-23 with a 4.66 ERA in 52 major league starts and one relief appearance for the Astros since 2024.
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