Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho (5) runs out of the dugout ahead of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Toronto on Saturday.Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press
The Toronto Blue Jays became both buyers and sellers on Monday before Major League Baseball’s trade deadline ended at 6 p.m. ET.
The turnstile clicked both ways on a busy day that saw them deal centre fielder Daulton Varsho to Houston and moved relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman to Minnesota. They also picked up a quality starter in pitcher José Soriano of the Los Angeles Angels and another hard thrower in Spencer Arrighetti from Houston.
In Varsho’s case, he simply had to switch clubhouses because the Blue Jays were already in town for the first of three games against the Astros. He was pencilled in to their lineup on Monday night.
Ross Atkins, the club’s general manager, addressed the media once the deadline was passed. He said he was disappointed the team is in a difficult position now after reaching the World Series last year.
“We had such hope at the beginning of the season,” Atkins said on a video call. “We still believe this group will stay competitive. We had to move on from players we had an appreciation for and still do.
“In the end, talent will trump all.”
Toronto, which is last in the American League East Division, remains in the periphery of the AL’s wildcard playoff race.
There were surprises though. George Springer remained on the Blue Jays roster. He is 36 and in the twilight of his career.
It was a busy day around the league. The biggest blockbuster saw the Boston Red Sox trade four players for Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman, a three-time all-star.
Toronto sent three prospects to Los Angeles for Soriano, who is 27 and throws 97 miles an hour. He had a 9-6 record, with a 3.29 earned run average with the last-place Angels. The players swapped for him included shortstop Arjun Nimmala, whom the team selected with the 20th choice in the first round during the 2023 draft.
Soriano will join Dylan Cease, named the American League’s pitcher of the month for July, and Trey Yesavage at the top of the starting rotation. Soriano is under contract for two more seasons.
Earlier the Blue Jays also picked up infielder Josh Smith and minor-league starter Josh Stephan from the Texas Rangers as part of a deal that saw lefty reliever Adam Macko head in the opposite direction.
Smith has been used primarily as a substitute and in 2024 won the AL Silver Slugger Award for utility players. That season he batted .258 with 30 doubles, 13 home runs and 62 runs driven in.
On Sunday the club traded beloved pitcher Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs for minor-league outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene.
@bluejays A chapter we’ll never forget. Thank you, Gaus 💙 #MLB #BlueJays #BlueJays50 #KevinGausman ♬ original sound - Toronto Blue Jays
Gausman, whose contract expires at the end of the 2026 campaign, is expected to make his first start for Chicago against Toronto at Wrigley Field on Thursday.
The Blue Jays also picked up 34-year-old pitcher Jameson Taillon from the Cubs on Sunday for cash or future considerations.
Taillon has spent 10 seasons in the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees and Chicago. He has won 14 games twice during his career but has struggled this year with a 5.92 ERA over 15 starts.
“I have seen him over the course of his career,” Toronto manager John Schneider said of Taillon on Sunday. “He has been better than he has shown this year.”
Taillon was born in Florida to Canadian parents and pitched for Canada at this spring’s World Baseball Classic.
Hoffman, who had 33 saves in 2025, lost his closer role this season to Louis Varland. When the trade was announced, Hoffman hugged Toronto teammates in the clubhouse.
In exchange, the Blue Jays received pitchers Dasan Hill and John Klein, and minor league infielder-outfielder Dameury Pena. The Jays will also receive some international bonus pool cash.