Ranking the center field possibilities for the 2024 Toronto Blue Jays

Option 3: Find the solution internally

What is likely the easiest option of the three, the Jays could just move Daulton Varsho over to center field. After all, he has shown day in and day out that he is a superb outfielder no matter where he played this past season. In fact, his defensive numbers in center field even trumped his numbers from left field. As a center fielder, Varsho posted a stellar 18 DRS with a perfect fielding percentage and five outfield assists in just 462.1 innings played and 146 chances. Whereas as a leftfielder, Varsho only had 11 DRS with a .994 fielding percentage and also five outfield assists, but this time in 817.2 innings played and 177 chances.

If the Jays want to dig deeper within their organization, with the rapid ascension of prospect Alan Roden this past season, he could potentially be given the chance to play in that position in 2024 if he can manage to have an impressive Spring Training with the ballclub. After all, in his 2023 minor league season, the seventh-ranked prospect in the Jays' system according to MLB Pipeline batted a stellar .317 with an .890 OPS, along with 92 runs scored, 29 doubles, 10 home runs, 68 RBI, and 24 stolen bases across two minor league levels. More importantly, he managed to accomplish all of that while demonstrating great plate discipline at the same time with 68 walks against only 64 strikeouts.

But no matter what, with the solution for center field practically set with Varsho, the Jays can see what they have in their solid internal options to cover left field to see if they work out. If they don’t in the end, they could then think going about the trade route at that time in getting their solution from there.

Chance of this option occurring: High