Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) will start a formal minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A Dunedin soon, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. Varsho and his wife, Brook, are expecting a child in the coming days, so he will ramp up his rehab after the baby arrives. The 28-year-old has been cleared to begin a rehab assignment after recently playing in extended spring training games on defense in the outfield. He got a late start in spring training after offseason surgery on his right shoulder, but if everything goes well on his rehab assignment, he could rejoin Toronto before the end of April. The Blue Jays will surely ease Varsho in on defense when he comes off the injured list, but when healthy, he will be a regular starter in the outfield as one of their best defenders. He was a disappointment offensively in 2024, and it remains to be seen how productive he'll be coming off shoulder surgery.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) has been playing catch up to 165 feet but has not yet been cleared to throw in games. Varsho opened the regular season on the 15-day injured list as he is working his way back from shoulder surgery. However, Varsho was able to serve as the designated hitter during spring training. The coaching staff has noted that Varsho will only join the MLB roster when he is cleared to play defense. While he has been sidelined, prospect Alan Roden has seen playing time in the starting nine. Last season, Varsho saw most of his time in left and center field. Across 136 contests, the 28-year-old posted a .214/.293/.407 slash line with 18 long balls and 10 stolen bases. Varsho is worth monitoring as he will hold value in category formats given his ability to hit for power and steal bases.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list, according to manager John Schneider. While it was thought this was going to be the case all along, it was confirmed by Schneider on Saturday. Varsho had been working as the team's DH this spring and was posting good results, slashing .276/.333/.793 with four home runs in 29 at-bats. While that type of pace should not be expected during the regular season, the left-handed hitter has some decent pop in his bat, slugging as many as 27 home runs in 2022 and 18 last season. The 28-year-old also has good speed, reaching double-digit steals each of the last three seasons. He won a Gold Glove in 2024 as well, so the Jays would rather him play both sides of the ball (not just DH), which is why he'll begin the season on the IL as he recovers from September rotator-cuff surgery. The IL stint is not expected to be a long one, while it leaves Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, and Alan Roden as potential short-term replacements. If needed, Varsho could be stashed in an IL spot for fantasy. Otherwise, he'd be a viable waiver-wire pickup if available when he returns.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) could begin the season on the injured list. Keegan Matheson of MLB.com noted that the outfielder is throwing at 120 feet and is viewed as "day-to-day." However, a "brief" stint on the IL is considered the "likeliest" outcome. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team will make a decision in the coming days. The 28-year-old has been deployed exclusively as a designated hitter during spring training and has yet to progress enough to take the field defensively. However, even if he did open the season on the injured list, he will likely not miss an extended period of time. Last season, Varsho appeared in 136 games for the Blue Jays and held a .214/.293/.407 line with 18 home runs and 10 stolen bases. When healthy, he should be viewed as a viable depth outfielder in category formats given his ability to hit for power and carry speed upside.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) threw out to around 105 feet in camp on Thursday. He still has two weeks until Opening Day, and although it's possible he'll need extra time to ramp up his throwing all the way, he's in a good spot given how complicated rehab from shoulder surgery can be, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. The 28-year-old continues to be up in the air for the start of the 2025 season after having surgery on his right shoulder in September of last year. He has yet to play the field yet in Grapefruit League action but has gone 5-for-16 with three home runs as the designated hitter, which is a great sign for him at the plate after having offseason surgery. Varsho's DH role could continue early into the season if he's not ready to play the outfield. He is RotoBaller's No. 90-ranked fantasy outfielder, but a bounce-back is possible if his down poor 2024 was related to his injured shoulder.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider played catch with outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) in camp on Sunday at 90 to 100 feet and called it "probably the best he's felt." "The next step is feeling that way when he's back to 120, 150, 175. We'll see when he gets there," Schneider said. Opening Day is a possibility for Varsho, but he's day-to-day for now. The 28-year-old is working his way back from right-shoulder surgery and the Blue Jays aren't going to push him just so that he can be out there on Opening Day, so fantasy managers shouldn't be all that surprised if he opens the year on the injured list. In addition to his shoulder injury, there are other reasons to be skeptical of him in fantasy after he was a below-average hitter in 2024. His shoulder injury could have been to blame, but Varsho just didn't hit the ball hard enough or consistently enough. RotoBaller has Varsho ranked as the No. 90 fantasy outfielder.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) is uncertain as to whether he'll ready in time to play on Opening Day. Blue Jays' manager John Schneider hinted earlier in camp that Varsho could spend some time on the injured list to begin the season. Varsho has started throwing up to 120 feet, but the next step is Varsho throwing over 80 mph regularly. It's possible that the Blue Jays carry Varsho on the Opening Day roster just as the designated hitter. He has looked fine as a hitter during spring training, but is still increasing his arm strength. George Springer might start the season in center field if Varsho isn't ready yet.UPDATE: Varsho hit a two-run home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Detroit Tigers.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) will make his Grapefruit League debut on Friday against the division-rival New York Yankees while serving as the designated hitter. Varsho said he's progressing well from right rotator-cuff surgery last September and has been throwing at 120 feet. He also continues to shag fly balls and hit in camp. The 28-year-old will begin the 2025 regular season on the injured list, but he might only have to spent the minimum time on the shelf before making his season debut. Fantasy managers shouldn't be in any hurry to roster Varsho coming off a pretty serious surgery, especially after he hit just .214/.293/.407 with a .700 OPS, 18 home runs, 58 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 73 runs scored in 136 games in 2024 in his second year in Toronto. His batted-ball metrics didn't paint a pretty picture, although his defensive abilities should keep him as a lineup regular if he's healthy.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) is hitting and throwing up to 90 feet, but manager John Schneider said the team is operating as if Varsho will miss time. However, the Jays aren't "putting anything past him." The 28-year-old will more than likely open the 2025 regular season on the injured list after undergoing shoulder surgery last year. When healthy, Varsho will operate as the team's regular center fielder. But until then, all of Joey Loperfido, Nathan Lukes, Jonatan Clase and George Springer could see time in center early in the year. Varsho's glove was his best asset for Toronto in his second year with the team, as he hit a below-average .214/.293/.407 with a .700 OPS, 18 home runs, 58 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 73 runs scored in 136 games. His shoulder injury could have been to blame, but it also doesn't make fantasy managers in mixed leagues confident that he can rebound coming off shoulder surgery.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) sounds unlikely to be ready for Opening Day in 2025, according to general manager Ross Atkins. "I don't want to limit him, but based on history, that could be unrealistic," said Atkins. Nothing is guaranteed at this time in the offseason, but it sounds like the Blue Jays aren't going to rush the 28-year-old in his recovery from surgery that he had on his right shoulder in late September. We'll have a better idea of his recovery timeline when the calendars flip to 2025, but Varsho's fantasy value will obviously take a hit if he's not ready for Opening Day. The former second-rounder had another below-average offensive season in Toronto in 2024, slashing .214/.293/.407 with a .700 OPS, 18 home run, 58 RBI, 10 steals and 73 runs scored in 136 games. Varsho's declining offensive profile and recovery from shoulder surgery won't make him very attractive in fantasy drafts next year.

The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 14) with a right-shoulder strain and recalled outfielder Steward Berroa from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Given the timing and the fact that Varsho hasn't played in a game since Sept. 11, there's a good chance that his 2024 season might be over. If this is it for the 28-year-old left-handed slugger, he'll finish his second year in Toronto with a weak .214/.293/.407 slash line with 18 home runs, 58 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 137 strikeouts in 513 plate appearances over 136 games played. His injury should open up more time for Nathan Lukes in center field for the rest of the season. In 11 games in just his second year in the big leagues, Lukes is swinging it well with a .357 average (15-for-42) with two doubles, five RBI and a stolen base for Toronto.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) will remain out of the starting nine on Sunday afternoon due to a sore left shoulder. Mike Wallner of the Toronto Star reports that this injury has kept the 28-year-old out of the lineup since Tuesday. As a result, Nathan Lukes will cover center field and bat in the leadoff spot. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Varsho's status before their game on Tuesday evening against the Texas Rangers. Throughout September, Varsho has carried a mere .148/.207/.296 line. Lukes has tallied 12 hits across his past nine games with two of them going for extra bases. He is worth a look in DFS this afternoon as he will face St. Louis right-hander Miles Mikolas, who enters Sunday with a 5.55 ERA.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho will start on the bench for Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Rogers Centre. With Varsho out, rookie Joey Loperfido is in center field and is batting ninth, and Nathan Lukes is starting in left field and will hit out of the two-hole versus Cardinals right-hander Erick Fedde. Neither Loperfido nor Lukes have ever faced Fedde before. Varsho is sitting against a right-hander because he has just four hits in his last 27 at-bats (.148) with a homer, double, two RBI, two walks and 11 strikeouts. He has double digits in homers (18) and steals (10) in 136 games in his second year in Toronto but is also hitting just .214 (98-for-459) with a .293 on-base percentage. Lukes is the better DFS sleeper because of his lineup position, and he's hit an impressive .357 (10-for-28) in eight games for the Blue Jays this year.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho and rookie first baseman Spencer Horwitz are out of the starting lineup on Wednesday at Rogers Centre against the New York Mets with a left-hander on the mound. Rookie Joey Loperfido will handle center-field duties and will bat eighth, while George Springer will serve as the designated hitter and bat leadoff against Mets lefty Sean Manaea. Nathan Lukes is in right field and is hitting in the two-hole. Springer has the quite the history against Manaea in 37 career at-bats, hitting .324 with a .768 OPS and six RBI, so he'll be a nice under-the-radar DFS sleeper while hitting leadoff. Horwitz has hit well in just his second MLB season in Toronto, but he's batting .193 (11-for-57) with none of his 12 home runs against southpaws in 2024, hence why he is on the bench on Wednesday.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. The lefty slugger will miss his second game in a row while he continues to nurse a shoulder injury. The Jays have a scheduled off day on Monday, so hopefully Varsho can return on Tuesday. In the meantime, Joey Loperfido will cover to center field and bat sixth while Nathan Lukes plays left field versus right-hander Bailey Ober. Neither player offers much upside with the bat right now, but Loperfido is the better option between the two. However, the 25-year-old rookie only has one hit in his last five games. That being said, fantasy managers should probably look elsewhere for help on Sunday.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho and first baseman Spencer Horwitz will head to the bench ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Fantasy managers don't need to worry about an injury as these moves appear to be matchup related. Varsho has a nine-game hit streak that will be held on hold unless he comes off the bench. Joey Loperfido will cover center field and bat second against left-hander Tyler Anderson. The rookie outfielder is heating up at the plate with eight hits over his last four games. He's well worth a look as a streaming option for Sunday's slate. As for Horwitz, he'll take a seat after starting in each of the last seven games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will cover first base and bat third, so fantasy managers should make sure to get him in their lineups.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho had a big game in his team's 9-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Varsho went 3-for-5 with a homer, a double, three runs, and three RBI to help power the Jays to the win. The veteran's homer, a three-run shot, came in the fifth inning, giving the Blue Jays a 6-0 lead. Varsho is now hitting .208 with 18 doubles, 15 homers, 60 runs, 51 RBI, and 10 steals across 375 at-bats this season. While his batting average is a drag in fantasy, he has been better in that area of late, hitting .280 with two homers over his past seven contests.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (illness) was removed early from Wednesday's loss to the division-rival Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning with heat-illness symptoms. Before being pulled from the contest, Varsho went 0-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and a strikeout. He was replaced in center field by Steward Berroa. With the game pretty much decided late, it's possible the Blue Jays pulled the 28-year-old as a precaution. The team has an off day coming on Thursday before starting a series at Yankee Stadium on Friday against the division-rival New York Yankees, so fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if Varsho is feeling good enough to play. Varsho is hitting under the Mendoza Line in 2024 while adding a modest 13 home runs and nine stolen bases while adding 46 RBI and 50 runs scored in 330 at-bats for Toronto.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (knee) is back in left field and is batting fifth on Friday against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Ryne Nelson in the series opener. Varsho will return against his former team after missing Thursday's game after he was pulled early from Wednesday's contest against the San Francisco Giants with a left-knee contusion that he suffered diving into first base. The matchup is a rather friendly one against a pitcher that has given up a lot of hard contact in 2024, but Varsho is also hitting under .200 on the year while batting .102 (5-for-49) with a double, two RBI, one stolen base and 20 strikeouts in 57 plate appearances in 16 games since June 19. So far in July, Varsho has four hits in 24 at-bats with eight strikeouts in eight games.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (knee) will take a seat for Thursday's series finale against the Giants in San Francisco. Varsho injured his left knee while sliding into first base in Wednesday's win, but he's dealing with a contusion and should be considered day-to-day. There's a chance he'll be right back in the lineup on Friday for the series finale in Arizona against his former team, the Diamondbacks. Kevin Kiermaier is starting in center field and batting eighth on Thursday, while Davis Schneider is in left field and is hitting seventh against Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks. Rookie Spencer Horwitz is at the keystone and manning the two-hole in the batting order. In his second year in Toronto, Varsho is hitting under .200 but has added 11 homers, 37 RBI and nine stolen bases in 85 games played as a regular in the outfield.