A Daulton Varsho reunion has been floated for the Blue Jays this winter which has fans surprised since there isn't much room for him in the lineup.

Bringing him back would push Brett Bateman out of the job he just earned

Toronto traded Varsho to the Astros at the deadline for Spencer Arrighetti. Both players struggled after the deal, and he's now a free agent.

Blue Jays Nation's Cynthia Ryley Delaney raised the idea, but even she landed on Bateman. "He's earned the role as the everyday center field who bats lead-off," she wrote.

Varsho's 2026 line wasn't pretty. He hit .221 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs.

His best year came back in 2022, when he hit 27 homers.

The glove has always been his calling card. Among Blue Jays with at least 1,000 innings from 2024 through 2026, only Alejandro Kirk posted a better Fielding Run Value.

Brett Bateman has earned center field over Daulton Varsho

Bateman is the better fit right now. He took over center field and the leadoff spot after the deadline and became the spark Toronto's offence badly needed.

The free agent would also add another left-handed bat to an outfield already full of them, alongside Bateman, Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger.

What about a timeshare in center? It would likely spell the end for Myles Straw, but it would also undercut a breakout the Jays should be building around.

Pass on the reunion. Ross Atkins already hinted he doesn't want to lean on Bateman for 162 games, and signing Varsho would turn that caution into a demotion.

Bringing him back is like rehiring your old roommate after you've already rented the room to someone who pays on time.

The affection is real. "He was loved, really, by his teammates, by all of us," John Schneider said after the trade.

Schneider added that Varsho left "deeply rooted in our clubhouse and community." That's a fond farewell, not a reason to re-sign him.

Toronto's outfield needs a right-handed power bat, not a familiar face. Spend the money on someone like Randy Arozarena or Seiya Suzuki, and let Bateman keep the job he took.