Since being traded to the Houston Astros, former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho has recently shown notable signs of life with his offense. 

Across his last 15 games, he has logged 12 hits, two home runs, nine RBI and six runs scored. Varsho's tenure with the Astros started off with a rough 3-for-28 slump across an eight-game stretch, but after adjusting to a new environment, his bat is finally showing flashes of life, with solid offensive contributions as of late. 

This was highlighted by a strong breakout game on Sept. 8 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Varsho went 3-for-5 with a double, a single and a home run, helping charge the Astros to a 6-5 victory. 

Varsho followed up with another hit and run scored on Sept. 9, and prior to the Phillies series, he had an efficient road trip in New York, going 10-for-33 and collecting five RBI.

Daulton Varsho could help increase value ahead of free agency

While his recent performance is encouraging, his recent stats combined with his time in Toronto still have him only putting up mediocre numbers and career-lows offensively with only 15 games remaining in the regular season. 

This season, Varsho is sporting an overall .228 batting average with 11 home runs, 12 stolen bases, 39 RBI and a low .655 OPS. But with the postseason around the corner, Varsho still has a chance to provide momentum for a team making its final postseason push. 

In the postseason for the Blue Jays last season, Varsho provided an impact with 17 hits, three home runs, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored across 18 games. How he continues to perform will play a major role in enhancing his value. 

Varsho is playing under a one-year, $10.75 million contract in the final year of arbitration, looking to secure a new contract ahead of the 2027 season, as he will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The 30-year-old's performance over the last few seasons has been interrupted by injuries, impacting his ability to replicate his 2022 career-high 27-home-run performance with the Arizona Diamondbacks.   

Varsho was able to hit 20 home runs in a shortened 2025 season (71 games) due to season-ending shoulder surgery, which is the same amount he hit in 2023 across 158 games. While his offense still requires a boost, he's also continued to be a plus defender. 

But Varsho admitted that he's starting to feel more comfortable after feeling pressure following his trade to the Astros. He's made minor mechanical tweaks with the help from hitting coaches Anthony Iapoce and Victor Rodriguez, who following his recent success told him:

“Go out there and play the game you’ve always known how to play and don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Go out there and have fun.”