How Blue Jays' Louis Varland has 'compelling case' for MLB All-Star selection

How Blue Jays’ Louis Varland has ‘compelling case’ for MLB All-Star selection originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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It’s safe to say the Toronto Blue Jays did not envision the first half of the season going like this. 

Especially after last year’s trip to the World Series. But the injury bug has decimated their starting rotation. 

In the bullpen, closer Jeff Hoffman has struggled mightily. Otherwise, manager John Schneider is receiving an All-Star-like season from right-hander Louis Varland. 

The Athletic’s Dan Jennings argues that Varland has as good a chance as any player on the Blue Jays to earn a trip to this year’s Midsummer Classic. 

“Ernie Clement could represent the Blue Jays (the field at second base is thin), and both Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease are definitely in the mix among AL starting pitchers, but Varland is worth highlighting,” Jennings wrote. “He has the highest fWAR and most Win Probability Added of any big-league reliever — better, even, than Mason Miller — which makes for a pretty compelling case.” 

A compelling case indeed. Any time your name is next to Miller, who is having a season for the ages with the San Diego Padres, you’ve gotta be doing something right. 

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Varland became a workhorse in the 2025 postseason after a trade from the Minnesota Twins. He’s thrown 34.2 innings this year and owns a minuscule 0.26 ERA with 45 strikeouts compared to just nine walks. 

The great news for Toronto is that he won’t reach free agency until 2031. The bad news is that his arbitration price may skyrocket. 

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