Daulton Varsho is a defensive asset. Mark Blinch / Getty ImagesAug. 3, 2026 Updated 4:44 pm EDTThe Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline.The Toronto Blue Jays on Monday agreed to trade outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Houston Astros for right-handed starter Spencer Arrighetti, according to multiple league sources who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a deal that hasn’t been announced.Varsho’s biggest value is his defense. The Gold Glove winner has graded out as one of the rangiest outfielders in baseball in recent years, crashing into walls and making diving catches. His first step has been slightly delayed in 2026, and his arm is not what it once was before early-2025 shoulder surgery, but he remains a solid option in the field.The 30-year-old’s bat is far less consistent. He is quite streaky, from year to year and even within seasons. The lefty hit 20 homers in only 71 games last year but notched just seven in his first 95 games in 2026.
Arrighetti earned American League Pitcher of the Month honors in May after allowing three earned runs across 29 innings, stabilizing a Houston rotation that was in tatters.Nothing since has looked the same. Arrighetti has an 8.34 ERA in his past nine starts, the last of which he exited after the first inning with nerve irritation in his right foot. Arrighetti landed on the 15-day injured list due to the ailment, but is not expected to need more than the requisite 15 days sidelined.Arrighetti walks to the clubhouse after being dealtChandler RomeA sixth-round pick of the Astros in the 2021 draft, Arrighetti has endured an uneven beginning to his major-league career. At his best, Arrighetti has enough spin and weapons to miss bats and strike out hitters at an elite level. Commanding that arsenal has been a problem, though. Arrighetti has walked 4.5 batters per nine innings during his major-league career and, this season, has hit 14 batters in 17 starts.According to multiple league sources, the Astros remain in the market for a starting pitcher. The return of both Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski from Tommy John surgery made Arrighetti expendable in Houston’s rotation, but given Tatsuya Imai’s struggles and the uncertainty surrounding pitchers returning from injury, it does beg the question whether Houston could make another deadline acquisition to backfill Arrighetti’s spot.Aug 3, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
