2 Blue Jays who deserve extensions instead of being dealt at the trade deadline

In preparing for the upcoming MLB trade deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays will be looking at how best to set up the future of the franchise. Sure, they want to maximize the number of assets that they can get on Aug. 3, but they have to keep the bigger picture in mind.

Rather than offloading every single player that is on an expiring contract, Toronto may find there is more value in by extending a couple of players instead

One of those players is Shane Bieber. Top-end pitching talent is hard to find in the major leagues, but the Jays are fortunate to have a few top arms currently in their starting rotation. Among them is the former Cy Young winner Bieber. Bieber came over to Toronto at the 2025 trade deadline from the Cleveland Guardians following his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Despite not being 100% healthy at the time, the 31-year-old right-hander still managed to post a 4-2 record with a 3.57 ERA while averaging close to a strikeout per inning down the stretch to help the Blue Jays reach the postseason.

Bieber followed that up with a solid playoff run that saw him compile a 2-1 record with a 3.86 ERA, along with 18 strikeouts in 18.2 total innings to take Toronto all the way to the World Series. Had he been fully recovered, who knows how much better he could have even been.

This season, he had to start the year on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation and needed time to shake off the rust after being out for almost three months. But with his past two starts, he looked more like vintage Bieber once again, going at least six innings in both games giving up just one earned run on six hits with nine strikeouts in 13 innings of work.

Sure, he can be a helpful asset for a contender this year and the Blue Jays might like to get a prospect or two in return. But if Toronto’s plan is to retool this offseason to get back on track, keeping Bieber and extending him makes more sense.

First of all, it shouldn’t cost as much to extend him now given all the injury woes he has been through in recent years. More importantly, having Bieber to team up with Dylan Cease and Trey Yesavage gives the Blue Jays a dynamic, top trio in their starting rotation for years to come.

The second player they should look at keeping around in center fielder Daulton Varsho. When he is at his best Varsho can bring elite and dependable defense in the outfield on a nightly basis. After all, the former Gold Glove winner has been all over the Blue Jays highlight reels during the past few seasons since coming over in the trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

But what has always left a bit to be desired has been his consistency at the plate. Varsho hit .220 or below while averaging 19 home runs and 60 RBIs in his first two seasons with the Blue Jays. However, the 30-year-old outfielder finally had his breakthrough campaign with Toronto last season despite a run of injuries when he batted close to .240 with an .833 OPS, with 20 home runs and 55 RBIs in 71 games of action.

Varsho has had some regression in his numbers once again this season, but the same drop off in numbers can be seen up and down the Toronto lineup by everyone not named Kazuma Okamoto as well due to the inept Jays offense. Varsho still has the potential to be an elite impact outfielder, something that the Blue Jays have had trouble finding over the years.

Extensions can be complicated in-season

Teams do reach extensions with their players in the season, but it's rare it happens and the more likely scenario is that the Blue Jays would come to an agreement with these guys in the offseason. However, there is real risk there.

Both Varsho and Bieber have never tested free agency and there is an allure to to wanting to find out what other teams think you are potentially worth. It's also not out of the question that both guys could be looking for a fresh start somewhere else given the way this seaso has gone in Toronto.

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