TORONTO — Daulton Varsho expected a challenging rehab-game assignment with triple-A Buffalo last Sunday in Columbus, where Shane Bieber was supposed to start for the Clippers. Instead, rain washed away both ends of a scheduled doubleheader, forcing the two players to make alternate plans before they met under very different circumstances Friday, as new teammates inside the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse.
“I feel like everywhere I went for my rehab assignment, there was always rain. That was a frustrating part of the process at the end,” Varsho recalled after being activated from the injured list. “But it’s awesome to have him here. I hated facing him when he was in Cleveland, it was a tough at-bat. Hopefully he’s able to get through the rest of this Tommy John process and help us win.”
That, of course, is the plan, and their marquee deadline addition Thursday, who along with reliever Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France, joined their new team. France started at designated hitter while Varland came out of a bullpen that previously added Seranthony Dominguez to pitch a clean seventh during a 9-3 thumping from the Kansas City Royals.
Bieber, still working his way back up from Tommy John surgery last year, spent the day mapping out his next steps with the Blue Jays, while also throwing a bullpen as a stepping stone to his next rehab outing. That will be Sunday, probably in Buffalo, with the aim of reaching five innings and 70-75 pitches.
Delayed by that rain delay last Sunday, Bieber ended up pitching at double-A Akron last Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits over four innings with seven strikeouts and he was “most pleased with not thinking about my health.”
“That says a lot about how far I’ve come post-surgery, where my body’s at, where my arm is at,” he continued. “I’m focused on ramping up to compete in the big leagues, and that’s a fun place to be. That’s what I’ve missed. That’s what I’ve strived for. I’m close now. It’s easier said than done to just take it one day at a time, but I’m going to do just that.”
The runway needed for his current buildup — his 30-day rehab assignment lasts another two weeks — gives the Blue Jays time to work out exactly how he’ll join a fully stocked rotation.
A six-man rotation is one possibility, and while manager John Schneider said “we’ve just begun that conversation,” he noted that “we’ve kind of mapped it out to where you could do it either way. And a lot of it’ll depend on how Shane does in the next couple outings.”
The old baseball cliche about roster issues figuring themselves out certainly applies, and if the Blue Jays do end up with six healthy and worthy starters, then “it’s a good problem to have,” said Schneider, one that will force them to balance the varied needs of everyone.
Integrating Varland and France will be far less complicated.
Varland slots toward the back-end of the Blue Jays bullpen, bolstering a leverage group that also includes closer Jeff Hoffman, Dominguez, Yariel Rodriguez and Brendon Little.
The 27-year-old, who unlike the other deadline adds isn’t a rental, transitioned from starting to relieving this season and has been a weapon, with a 1.98 ERA in 50 innings over 52 outings, with only 13 walks and 48 strikeouts.
“First off, it’s easier to get three outs rather than 18 outs as a starter,” Varland explained of why the move has worked for him. “I changed some mechanics stuff to be more deceptive, so I think that’s helped me get more outs.”
Given that he’s under contractual control for five more years beyond this season, Varland is an atypical acquisition at deadline time, which is why he said Thursday’s deal “kind of blindsided me.”
The depth of the Twins’ remarkable roster gutting stunned others, too, including France, who figured he’d be dealt, but counted Varland among “a couple guys that I was surprised that they ended up moving.”
“That just goes to show how bad the Blue Jays wanted him and what he brings to the table,” France added. “They were willing to give up good pieces for him and I think he’s going to do well here for the next few years.”
As for France, he’ll get some reps at first base on days Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is at DH and will face mostly lefties, although the Blue Jays will look for optimal matchups against righties, too. With George Springer hitting the concussion IL on Friday, France started at DH against righty Michael Wacha.
“It’s cool being a piece that’s added to a winning team,” said France. “I’ve played against these guys a lot the last handful of years, so walking in here, it doesn’t feel brand new. … Working with (hitting coach David Popkins) already, within five minutes of meeting him, he was showing me things that could improve my swing. So, just excited to get things rolling and see where this season takes us.”
The same applies to Bieber, who described the final checkmarks for himself in his build-up process as “just volume.”
“My stuff, quote-unquote, has been in a really good spot,” he continued. “I’ve been really happy with how the ball’s coming on my hand. Just need to continue to build volume and get ready, when I do get the ball out on that mound, to have no restrictions and go out there and compete.”
The bet by the Blue Jays is that he’ll soon be able to do that at a level similar to that of his past.
Bo Bichette has only three plate appearances against Bieber in the majors, going 0-for-3 with an RBI, but “I do remember facing him in the minor leagues (both in high-A in 2017 and double-A in 2018). He was like way beyond anybody at that level at that point, so I figured he’d be something special. He’s just a great pitcher.”
Varsho is 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against Bieber and missed a chance to improve upon that last week due to the rain in Columbus.
“He has a good feel for that slider/breaking ball he has and pitchability, like the guys in our starting rotation, they just pitch,” he said. “And for him to be able to do that with the stuff he has, that’s what makes him really good. He’s able to locate and do what he wants to do and spin it when he wants.”
A mix Varsho is happy he no longer needs to face and now gets to play behind.
