The Houston Astros addressed their outfield need at the trade deadline Monday, acquiring Gold Glove center fielder Daulton Varsho from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. The two sides were finalizing physicals on both players as the deal came together.
Varsho, a left-handed hitter, gives Houston exactly the profile general manager Dana Brown had been targeting all summer: an outfield bat capable of hitting left-handed in a lineup that has leaned more heavily on right-handed hitters than any other team in baseball this season. One of baseball’s premier defensive outfielders, Varsho won a Gold Glove in center field in 2024 and gives the Astros a significant defensive upgrade at a position that has cycled through several options this year. He is in the final guaranteed year of his contract and is scheduled to become a free agent after the season, making him a rental for Houston’s postseason push unless the two sides agree to an extension.
Varsho is hitting .246/.315/.449 with 18 home runs, 57 RBIs, and a .764 OPS in 2026 while continuing to provide elite defense in center field.
Arrighetti heads to Toronto while working back from the right foot nerve irritation that sent him to the injured list in late July. He carries a 7-5 record and 4.60 ERA over 88 innings this season, production that included both dominant stretches and difficult outings. He remains under club control beyond this season, giving the Blue Jays a longer-term option in their rotation once he returns from injury.
The move comes with Houston in the middle of its best stretch of the season, winners of six straight and sitting atop the AL West. It also directly addresses an outfield that ranked near the bottom of the majors offensively for much of the season while significantly improving the club’s defense heading into October.
The trade is one of several moves completed ahead of Monday’s 5 p.m. Central trade deadline.
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