The Blue Jays announced on Tuesday that they have reinstated top prospect from the restricted list and optioned him to their spring training facility. Daulton Varsho, who recently had shoulder surgery, has been placed on the 60-day injured list to create space on the 40-man roster.
This is mainly a procedural action. Orelvis Martinez who faced an 80-game PED suspension earlier this season, which he has now completed. With Varsho’s season effectively over, this move helps manage the roster in the short term while postponing more critical decisions about 40-man roster spots. By the start of the offseason, Varsho, Will Wagner, Alek Manoah, and Jordan Romano will need to be reinstated from the 60-day IL. While Ryan Yarbrough’s free agency will free up one spot, the Jays will need to create three additional openings, likely by designating some marginal players for assignment.
Martinez, 22, has played just one major league game before his suspension. He has been highly regarded as one of the top prospects not only in Toronto’s system but across MLB. This season, he recorded a .267/.346/.523 batting line in Triple-A, which mirrors his .263/.340/.507 performance in half a season there in 2023.
The 2024 season was expected to be a chance for Martinez to establish himself as a significant part of the Jays’ future, especially after the team traded veterans like Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Justin Turner. Shortstop Bo Bichette has faced multiple injuries, playing only 81 games this season. However, Martinez’s suspension prevented him from taking advantage of the opportunities that arose, leading to uncertainty about his future, particularly given the implications of a PED ban on the credibility of his previous performance.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Jays will have Bichette, Wagner, Ernie Clement, Addison Barger, and Leo Jimenez vying for infield positions. Although there has been talk of potentially trading Bichette, the team seems committed to contending in 2025, and moving him might not be feasible. Clement has had a solid season defensively, but none of the current infielders are performing at a level that would block Martinez if he impresses in the spring. He will need to earn his place next year, especially after missing half of this season, but the uncertain infield situation could provide openings, even with the likelihood of the Jays bringing in veteran players during the offseason.
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