The Toronto Blue Jays made an aggressive push to reshape their starting rotation at the trade deadline, moving on from two veteran arms while bringing in a pair of starters who can help them win now and remain under team control beyond this season.
After sending Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs and acquiring Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels, Toronto made another significant deal with one of its American League opponents.
The Blue Jays traded Daulton Varsho to the Houston Astros in exchange for Spencer Arrighetti, adding the 26-year-old right-hander to a rotation that has undergone a major overhaul. Arrighetti has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but Toronto views him as another potential long-term piece.
“The Blue Jays sent Daulton Varsho across the diamond here in Houston to join the Astros, in a deal that netted them 26-year-old starter Spencer Arrighetti,” MLB.com‘s Keegan Matheson reported at the time. “Arrighetti is another long-term addition for their rotation after landing Jose Soriano from the Angels in a big, splashy deal…”
Arrighetti’s early tenure with Toronto, though, has not gone completely according to plan. A problem with his right foot disrupted his progress and raised uncertainty over when the Blue Jays would be able to rely on their newest rotation addition.
Now, however, Toronto may have come up with a surprisingly straightforward solution to get Arrighetti back on track.
Toronto Blue Jays Find Simple Solution For Injured Houston Astros Starter Spencer Arrighetti
Arrighetti recently offered the Blue Jays some encouraging news after taking the mound for Triple-A Buffalo as part of his rehabilitation process. According to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, the right-hander said he experienced no pain in his right foot during Sunday’s outing after making a change to his cleats and adding a new insole.
The adjustment appears to have produced immediate results.
Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae reported that the Blue Jays’ staff created custom insoles for Arrighetti to cover the area where a nerve had been irritated, providing additional support and stability. Arrighetti told Mae that he had not experienced the pain since making the adjustment and that everything felt great.
While the latest development does not completely eliminate the concerns surrounding Arrighetti’s health, being able to complete a rehab appearance without experiencing foot pain is an important step forward. Toronto acquired the right-hander with plans for him to play a significant role in its revamped rotation, making his continued progress especially important.
Toronto Blue Jays’ New Starter Spencer Arrighetti Could Be Close To Return After Houston Astros Trade
The next stage of Arrighetti’s recovery could arrive sooner rather than later.
According to Davidi, Arrighetti was set to throw a side session Monday, with the Blue Jays expected to decide his next step afterward. Manager John Schneider also suggested that the right-hander could potentially make his next appearance with Toronto’s major league team.
That would be a major development for the Blue Jays, who did not acquire Arrighetti simply as organizational depth. The former Astros starter was brought in as part of Toronto’s larger plan to build a younger, more sustainable rotation. If he can return to full health, Arrighetti could provide the Blue Jays with another valuable option during their playoff chase and heading into next season.
For now, the biggest positive is that Arrighetti’s troublesome foot issue may have a much simpler solution than initially expected.
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