D-backs trade Varsho to Blue Jays, receive Moreno, Gurriel – The Washington Post

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired one of the top prospects in baseball, adding catcher Gabriel Moreno and veteran outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in a Friday swap that sent slugger Daulton Varsho to the Toronto Blue Jays.The 22-year-old Moreno made the majors last season with the Blue Jays, hitting .319 with a homer in 69 at-bats. The 29-year-old Gurriel is a five-year veteran who hit .291 with five homers and 32 doubles this year.The Blue Jays get the versatile Varsho, who was arguably the best player on the Diamondbacks last season. The 26-year-old Varsho hit a career-high 27 homers in 2022. He is an excellent defender in the outfield who also has the ability to play catcher.Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said it was difficult to give up Varsho, who had become a leader in the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse despite his relative youth.“To get good players, we had to give up a good player,” Hazen said. “But we feel like we acquired two good players. Two good players who fit a very specific need for us.”Moreno and Gurriel are both right-handed hitters, which allows the D-backs to balance their left-handed heavy lineup.Varsho is a left-handed hitter and was part of Arizona’s
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