Toronto Blue Jays common supervisor Ross Atkins named a stunning choice for the crew’s emptiness in heart discipline for subsequent season.
The Blue Jays traded former heart fielder Daulton Varsho to the Houston Astros at this yr’s commerce deadline. Although Varsho is a free agent, he gained’t be coming again to Toronto, so the crew is taking a look at different choices for the CF place.
Whereas a commerce or free-agent pickup can’t be dominated out, it seems the crew will stick in-house to fill the void, with Atkins naming a stunning choice to play the place subsequent yr.
Addison Barger Might Play CF for Blue Jays
Talking to Blue Jays reporters in Las Vegas, Atkins talked about that Brett Bateman and Nathan Lukes might each play heart discipline for Toronto subsequent yr, two names that aren’t stunning given they’re two of the crew’s finest defensive outfielders.
However he additionally named Addison Barger as a 3rd choice to play CF, which is a giant shock given Barger is extra of a nook outfielder and third baseman, and likewise as a result of he missed most of final season because of accidents.
Nonetheless, it appears just like the Blue Jays would possibly give Barger the prospect to get into the CF combine subsequent yr.
“Fascinating notice from Ross Atkins when requested concerning the Blue Jays’ CF depth chart. Together with Brett Bateman & Nathan Lukes, he named Addison Barger as an choice.”
Addison Barger Blue Jays Profession
The Blue Jays drafted Barger within the sixth spherical of the 2018 MLB Draft. The 26-year-old Washington native then made his MLB debut for Toronto in 2024 earlier than having a breakout season in 2025 when he hit 21 house runs because the Blue Jays made all of it the way in which to the World Collection.
That included Barger hitting a pinch-hit grand slam in Recreation 1 of the 2025 World Collection towards the Los Angeles Dodgers, a primary in MLB historical past.
Sadly, Barger was banged up for many of 2026, enjoying in simply 9 video games for the crew and having only one hit.
In his MLB profession, Barger has performed in 99 video games within the outfield, however they’ve come solely in proper discipline and in left discipline, so transferring to heart discipline can be a giant change for Barger, who has additionally performed in 127 video games at third base for Toronto.
Although Barger has a rocket arm, his lack of velocity and vary makes him a greater choice for the corners for Toronto, but it surely feels like he’ll get an opportunity to at the very least check out at CF for the Blue Jays subsequent season.
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