Report: Daulton Varsho returns to the Blue Jays while Paxton Schultz and Will Wagner are optioned to Buffalo

Right-hander Casey Lawrence joins the Jays after starting the year with the Mariners, signing a MiLB deal with the club in early February after spending all of 2024 in triple-A with the organization. With Seattle, the veteran hurler pitched to a 3.60 ERA through 10 innings, compiling a 1.50 WHIP and allowing 14 hits and four runs through four innings of work. He has been DFA’d multiple times this season, and the Jays picked him up yesterday and have now added him to the roster. Fans may remember Lawrence from the 2022 season, appearing in six games for the Jays and allowing 15 earned runs through 18 innings. Ryan Burr was moved to the 60-day IL to make room for Lawrence on the 40-man roster.

To make room on the active roster, reliever Paxton Schultz and infielder Will Wagner were optioned to triple-A.

Schultz tied an MLB record during his debut, striking out eight during his relief appearance, before getting tagged for three earned runs against the Yankees on Sunday through 2 1/3 innings. The right-hander is likely on the wrong side of a business decision, with the club needing space for Lawrence and deciding to keep Dillon Tate on the squad over Schultz.

The other move is a bit more out of left field, as Wagner was getting regular at-bats to start the year for the Blue Jays out of the gate despite struggling at the plate. Through 20 games and 59 at-bats, he owns a .186/.284/.220 slash line with two doubles and two RBIs to the tune of a .504 OPS.

With Wagner being optioned, the Jays now employ seven players who can take reps in the outfield, with Addison Barger being the lone player who can take reps at third base if needed. Ernie Clement will likely get the bulk of the time at third base moving forward.