Blue Jays deal Varsho and Hoffman, get pitcher Soriano from Angels

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jose Soriano (59) throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 26, 2026. The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Soriano in a trade on Aug. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays continued to shed pieces of the team that reached the World Series last year by trading outfielder Daulton Varsho and cash to the Houston Astros and closer Jeff Hoffman to the Minnesota Twins.

The Blue Jays received right-handed pitcher Spencer Arrighetti for Varsho and acquired three prospects in the deal that sent Hoffman to the Twins.

Those moves came a day after the Jays dealt veteran pitcher Kevin Gausman, one of Toronto’s most reliable starters for five seasons, to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene.

Toronto acquired right-handed pitcher José Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels before Monday’s trade deadline in exchange for three prospects.

The 27-year-old Soriano from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has a 9-6 record, 127 strikeouts and a 3.29 earned-run average over 22 starts this season for the Angels. His career record is 26-27 with a 3.72 ERA over four seasons.

Soriano was the American League’s pitcher of the month for March-April after going 5-1 with a .84 ERA and 49 strikeouts. Soriano ranks second among qualified AL pitchers in ground ball rate at 52.3 per cent this season.

The Blue Jays (52-60) reached the World Series last year before falling in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. But Toronto was more of a seller than a buyer at Monday’s deadline.

Heading into an evening road game against Houston, the Blue Jays were 4 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot with four teams — the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers — between them and the wild-card berth.

The 30-year-old Varsho earned his first career Golden Glove award as a Blue Jay in 2024. Since he was acquired by Toronto in 2023, Varsho led all major-leaguers in defensive runs saved (63).

His batting average this season was .243 with 26 RBI and seven home runs. Varsho hit a triple and a home run and drove in two runs in last year’s World Series.

Arrighetti, 26, went 7-5 over 17 starts with a 4.60 ERA for the Astros this season.

In the Hoffman deal with Minnesota, Toronto acquired left-handed pitcher Dasan Hill, right-handed thrower John Klein and infielder Dameury Pena.

Klein, 24, made his MLB debut this season. He appeared in three games for an 0-1 record and an ERA of .415. Hill and Pena, both 20, were playing single-A ball this season.

Hoffman, 33, had a 6-7 record and a 3.94 ERA over 51 appearances this season for the Blue Jays. He recorded two saves in Toronto’s AL series win over the Seattle Mariners last year.

Also Monday, the Blue Jays sent left-handed pitcher Adam Macko to the Rangers to get infielder Josh Smith and right-handed pitcher Josh Stephan.

The 28-year-old Smith has split his season between the majors and triple-A while batting .213 with a home run and eight RBI in 136 at-bats for Texas. Smith has appeared in 501 MLB games over five seasons with the Rangers with a career batting average of .234.

Stephan, 24, has a 6-5 record, and a 5.44 ERA in 21 appearances in triple-A ball this season.

The 25-year-old Macko appeared in 22 games for the Blue Jays for a 2-0 record and a 4.91 ERA. He was a seventh-round pick by Seattle in 2019 before he was dealt to Toronto in 2023.

Toronto sent infielder Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti Jr., and right-handed pitcher Angel Rivero to the Angels for Soriano.

Nimmala, 20, has split his season between four levels of minor-league ball in Toronto’s system. The shortstop was selected 20th overall in the 2023 draft.

Micheletti Jr., hit 20 doubles, four triples and 14 home runs for 45 RBI with double-A New Hampshire this season. The left-handed hitter was chosen by the Blue Jays in the eighth round of the 2024 draft.

Rivero, 19, carried a 2.46 ERA over 12 appearances in rookie ball with 52 strikeouts this season. The Venezuelan was signed as an international free agent in 2024.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 3, 2026.

The Canadian Press