The Houston Astros, who have been trying to find a left-handed-hitting outfielder for years, have acquired center fielder Daulton Varsho from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-hander Spencer Arrighetti on Monday.
The Astros have been one of the hottest teams in baseball, winning 11 of their past 12 games to surge into first place in the American League West.
The 30-year-old Varsho, who will start for the Astros against the Blue Jays on Monday night, brings power and elite defense along with a veteran presence. He is hitting .243 with seven home runs, 26 RBIs and nine stolen bases this season. The 2024 Gold Glove winner is set to become a free agent after this season.
"Excited to add Varsho to our lineup," Astros manager Joe Espada said. "He fits a hole that we've had here for a while. He brings a different dynamic to our offense, can really play center field, lefty bat. This guy was in the World Series not that long ago, so he knows what it takes."
Espada said he plans to play Varsho only in center field and raved about his skills on offense and defense.
"He's got some juice," Espada said. "I think his power will play really well in this ballpark. He can run, can steal some bases. He's a plus defender in center, so those are things that will fit right in."
On the defensive side, he leads all MLB outfielders with 83 defensive runs saved since 2022, according to Fangraphs. The Astros are tied for 25th with eight fielding errors among outfielders this season; Varsho has eight errors in 703 career games.
In seven MLB seasons with the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks, Varsho has hit .229 with 106 home runs and 321 RBIs.
The Blue Jays, in a separate deal, also traded reliever Jeff Hoffman to the Minnesota Twins on Monday.
Arrighetti, on the 15-day injured list because of nerve irritation in his right foot, is 7-5 with a 4.60 ERA in 17 starts this season. The 26-year-old right-hander, who grew up in Texas, is 15-23 with a 4.66 ERA in 52 major league starts and one relief appearance for the Astros since 2024.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.