Blue Jays ship Varsho to Astros, Hoffman to Twins

The Toronto Blue Jays have traded outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Houston Astros.

August 3, 2026

Official Toronto Blue Jays News Release

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired right-hander Spencer Arrighetti from the Houston Astros in exchange for outfielder Daulton Varsho and cash considerations.

Arrighetti, 26, made 17 starts for the Astros this season, going 7-5 while recording a 4.60 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP and a .215 opponent average, keeping hitters to just a 30.8% hard-hit rate. The right-hander from Albuquerque, N.M., was selected by the Astros in the sixth round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, going on to make his MLB debut for the team in 2024. In parts of three MLB seasons, Arrighetti has made 53 career appearances (52 starts), recording a 4.66 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP, a .236 opponent average, and 289 strikeouts over 268 1/3 innings. Arrighetti was named the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2023.

Varsho, 30, slashed .243/.307/.375 with 19 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, nine stolen bases, and a .682 OPS over 99 contests with the Blue Jays this season. The left-handed hitter from Marshfield, Wisc., was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, making his MLB debut for the team in the 2020 campaign. Varsho was acquired by the Blue Jays prior to the 2023 season, and during his time in Toronto, has led all major leaguers in defensive runs saved (63), earning his first career Gold Glove award in 2024. Across seven MLB seasons with the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays, Varsho has slashed .229/.297/.422 with 121 doubles, 21 triples, 106 home runs, 321 RBIs, 62 stolen bases, and a .719 OPS in 747 career games.

Hoffman dealt to Twins

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired left-hander Dasan Hill, right-hander John Klein, infielder Dameury Pena, and international signing bonus pool space from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for reliever Jeff Hoffman and cash considerations.

Hill, 20, has made 16 starts for the Twins High-A affiliate in Cedar Rapids, putting up a 5.80 ERA with 3.00 FIP, a 35.8% strikeout rate, and a 34.5% whiff rate. The left-hander was selected by the Twins in the Competitive Balance Round B of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Grapevine High School (Texas). In two seasons in the Twins’ system, Hill has made 35 starts, posting a 4.29 ERA with 160 strikeouts over 107.0 innings.

Klein, 24, made his MLB debut for the Twins earlier this season, appearing in 27 contests (14 starts) between the MLB level and triple-A St. Paul, recording a 5.80 ERA with 24.8% strikeout rate over 68 1/3 combined innings. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound right-hander from Brooklyn Park, Minn., was signed by the Twins as a non-drafted free agent in 2022 out of Iowa Central Community College. Over five seasons in the Twins’ minor league system, Klein has made 92 appearances (62 starts), recording a 4.54 ERA with 355 strikeouts across 331 career innings.

Pena, 20, has split the 2026 campaign between Single-A Fort Myers and High-A Cedar Rapids, slashing .300/.373/.362 with 10 doubles, four triples, one home run, 47 RBI, 20 stolen bases, just a 7% strikeout rate, and a .735 OPS. The right-handed hitter from Bonao, Dominican Republic, was signed by the Twins as an international free agent in 2023, playing in 254 minor league contests, slashing .285/.363/.367 with 32 doubles, eight triples, 10 home runs, 124 RBIs, 82 stolen bases, and a .730 OPS.

Hoffman, 33, made 51 appearances for the Blue Jays this season, recording 3.94 ERA with a 2.51 FIP, a 34.9% strikeout rate, a 37.8% whiff rate, and a 26.5% K-BB%. Hoffman returned to the Blue Jays as a free agent prior to the 2025 season, as he was originally selected by the club ninth overall in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of East Carolina University. Across 11 MLB seasons, the right-hander from Latham, N.Y., has suited up for the Rockies, Reds, Phillies, and Blue Jays, recording a 4.69 ERA with 638 strikeouts over 378 career appearances (50 starts), while being named an All-Star in 2024.