The Blue Jays should make every attempt to bring back Kevin Kiermaier this offseason

As far as villain-to-hero redemption stories go, it doesn't get much better than Kevin Kiermaier's 2023 season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

After signing a one-year, $9M "show-me" deal, the former Tampa Bay Ray arrived in town as public enemy number one after a decade of tormenting Jays fans with his stellar defense and pesky bat.

Oh, and let's not forget the infamous card-stealing fiasco of 2021.

In a season that has been about as successful as a free agent in Kiermaier's situation — a 33-year-old coming off hip surgery — could imagine, he has endeared himself to the fans and his teammates and has turned out to be an indispensable piece of the 2023 Blue Jays.

However, with only weeks left in the regular season, the question looms: will Kiermaier return for an encore performance in a Blue Jays uniform, or will he be plying his trade elsewhere next year come Opening Day?

It's hard to imagine many fans not wanting to see ol' dreamy eyes back in Toronto, and for good reason. He would certainly be welcomed with open arms by the city, the country and his teammates.

But will the front office feel the same? Will Kiermaier want to come back for another run? Can the two sides agree on dollars and term for a player heading into his age 34 season?

Kiermaier's glove is still golden

From his spectacular Rogers Centre highlight-reel debut to his ability to make challenging plays look mundane, the fleet-of-foot Kiermaier has proven he still has elite defensive chops, and it doesn't look like he's slowing down anytime soon. Although, Father Time comes for us all eventually.

The three-time Gold Glove winner has been integral to the Blue Jays' identity as a defensively sound ball club, leading the way with 118 center-field appearances. His 16 Defensive Runs Saved above average (DRS) tops all qualified center fielders.

He's also among the outfield leaders with a 98th-percentile 12 Outs Above Average (OAA) and 11 Runs Above Average (RAA), keeping pace with youngsters Brenton Doyle, Luis Robert Jr. and Julio Rodríguez.

Toronto's outfield isn't just defensively sound; it's the cream of the crop and arguably the best in the majors. The combination of Kiermaier, Springer and Varsho has combined for a league-leading 41 DRS. For comparison, the Padres sit second with 20, while the Yankees are last at -25.

Can the Blue Jays afford to lose such a big piece of the defensive puzzle? Especially now that the front office seems hellbent on weaving the team's identity out of pitching and defense?

It seems like the answer should be a resounding "no." Simple, clean, done. Keep Kiermaier here for as long as possible, or at least as long as he can keep pace with the league.

There is a scenario, however, in which the response is "yes," and it's an easier answer to come to than you may think.

Do the Blue Jays already have a replacement for Kiermaier?

As universally loved as Kiermaier is, there's another, younger outfielder already in the fold who seems like the heir-apparent for the center field job. Despite his immense struggles with the bat this season, Daulton Varsho's defensive play in the outfield has been more than adequate in his first season in Toronto.

Okay, forget adequate. Varsho's defense has been downright incredible.

Playing primarily in left field with 109 appearances, the 27-year-old former catcher has also made 61 appearances in center, filling in for Kiermaier with ease.

With 1,210 innings patrolling his two positions, Varsho is playing Gold Glove-caliber defense, leading all outfielders with a 27 DRS. He also sits fourth in the majors with a 13.2 Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 games (UZR/150). If that isn't enough for you, remember that table from earlier? Varsho is just off that leaderboard with the fifth-highest OAA and RAA at 10 and 9, respectively.

So, if the team is unable to bring Kiermaier back, for whatever reason, they will be ready to roll out a solid replacement. As a bonus for the number crunchers in the front office, Varsho is affordable at $3.1M this season and in his arbitration years until 2027.

The problem is that they'll need to find another top-tier defender to maintain the team's defensive identity and level of outfield play to which we have all become accustomed.

There are plenty of reasons for the Jays to bring Kiermaier back, although things don't always work out how we'd like in the big business of baseball.

In the end though, it's simple, really ... just re-sign Kevin Kiermaier.