After several offseason changes to the pitching staff and infield, the Toronto Blue Jays have spent much of this season searching for answers in the outfield as well.
The roster has been tested by injuries that have forced the front office to continually evaluate its organizational depth, slotting in options like Jesus Sanchez and Yohendrick Pinango while Addison Barger and Anthony Santander dealt with setbacks.
And recently another outfield staple has gone down with an injury.
“In a scene too familiar, another member of the Blue Jays left Friday’s loss to the Orioles early. This time, it was Daulton Varsho,” MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson reported earlier this month. “The Blue Jays’ center-fielder is dealing with left wrist discomfort, the club says, which was evident on two swings he took in his first at-bat of the game. On a swinging strike and foul tip, Varsho appeared to be favoring that left wrist.”
Varsho returned to the lineup and might have put that injury behind him for good but shortly before he came back, the Blue Jays acquired some lower-level depth for the outfield.
Toronto Blue Jays Add Former AL West Outfielder
After an American League West division team cut ties with a young outfielder, the Blue Jays quickly snapped him up.
“(Rhylan) Thomas signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Monday,” CBS Sports reported this week. “He reported to the Blue Jays’ complex in Florida earlier this week to begin his time with the organization, but Thomas should eventually settle at Triple-A Buffalo. The 26-year-old outfielder had previously been part of the Mariners’ and Astros’ 40-man rosters earlier this season but had played exclusively at the Triple-A level for both organizations, slashing a collective .253/.304/.307 with two home runs and six steals across 184 plate appearances.”
Thomas enjoyed a brief cup of coffee in the big leagues with the Seattle Mariners last year, and he could be a key outfield reserve for the Blue Jays if they continue to suffer injury setbacks.
Toronto Blue Jays Add 26-Year-Old Outfielder
Thomas arrived after spending the first part of this season bouncing between organizations in the AL West.
“Houston claimed Thomas off waivers from Seattle in early May,” Anthony Franco wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “They kept him in Triple-A, where he has spent the entire season. He has a modest .253/.304/.307 line over a combined 185 plate appearances between the two AL West affiliates. Thomas’ scant big league experience consists of three games for the Mariners last May. He went 1-8 with a double.”
While Thomas is unlikely to immediately factor into the major-league roster, his ability to provide Triple-A depth could become more important if Toronto suffers additional outfield injuries.
For now, the Blue Jays will hope Varsho’s wrist issue proves minor. But by bringing in Thomas, the organization has quietly added another potential option as it prepares for the challenges of the season’s second half.
