A Daulton Varsho extension should be Toronto Blue Jays priority in 2026
Photo credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
A contract extension for Daulton Varsho should be at the top of the Toronto Blue Jays' to-do list in 2026.
This isn't the first time we've talked about how important a Daulton Varsho extension is for the Toronto Blue Jays.
When the team secured Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a massive 14-year, $500 million extension, it removed a major distraction and allowed the organization to focus fully on the field, something that played a role in their success during the 2025 season.
Alejandro Kirk followed suit early in 2025, signing a five-year, $58 million deal that already looks like a bargain for one of the league's top defensive catchers who also brings solid offensive production.
That deal appeared to free Kirky mentally, helping him focus solely on his performance and ultimately leading to one of the strongest seasons of his career.
Heading into 2026, several players are nearing free agency.
On the pitching side, Kevin Gausman could be in line for an extension, while Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer, Eric Lauer, and Yimi Garcia are all set to hit the open market.
Position-player-wise, George Springer, arguably the team's top hitter in 2025, is also approaching free agency.
Varsho stands out as the player the Blue Jays should prioritize
With the new season set to begin Friday, Varsho's elite defense alone makes a strong case for an extension.
On top of that, he's coming off another impressive Spring Training.
Across 47 plate appearances, the 29-year-old posted a .380/.426/.820 slash line, good for a 1.246 OPS, along with five home runs and a 263 wRC+.
DAULTON VARSHO OFF TARIK SKUBAL. 2026 VARSHO IS GOING NUCLEAR
Of course, Spring Training numbers should be viewed with caution, but one particularly encouraging sign is his plate discipline: just one strikeout over 54 plate appearances, paired with noticeable improvement against high fastballs.
Varsho doesn't need a reminder that consistency at the plate is key. Cutting down on strikeouts and improving his batting average would allow his power to play up even more.
In an interview with the Toronto Sun's Rob Longley, Varsho said he's been proactive in that regard, studying some of the game's most productive hitters during the offseason.
«If you look at guys in this game like the (Aaron) Judges, the (Shohei) Ohtanis and I would even put George (Springer) in that category, you look at the at-bats they have and they aren't swinging at stuff that's off the plate,» Varsho said. «They're hunting the zone, hunting their pitch. «You look at those hitters, it's impressive, the consistency part of it. When they're going through their lows, it's going 1-for-4, not 0-for-12. So I'm trying to learn from them them and take that into my game.»
Given his Gold Glove-caliber defense and untapped offensive upside, Varsho will likely be a highly sought-after player.
If his bat takes a meaningful step forward, his value could skyrocket ahead of the 2027 free-agent class.
«Don't try to put any pressure on yourself,» Varsho told Longley of his approach to his final year under contract with the Jays. «We have good hitting coaches are going to help me. It's a business thing. I'm going to take it with a grain of salt and go out there and have fun, be with my teammates and do everything I can to help this team win.»
Even at his floor, Varsho offers elite defense and useful power from the lower part of the lineup.
If everything clicks and he stays healthy, the case becomes even clearer, the Blue Jays would be wise to get an extension done in 2026 before his value climbs even higher.
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