FRANCE AND VARLAND TO TORONTO
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired infielder Ty France and pitcher Louie Varland from the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Alan Roden and pitcher Kendry Rojas.
What does it give the Toronto Blue Jays
This trade upgrades Toronto's infield and bullpen depth. France is a serviceable hitter who can play multiple infield positions. He might be a platoon bat for the Blue Jays, but he could play his way into regular at-bats as well. As for Varland, he was having a breakout season as a setup man in Minnesota. The right-hander should fill a similar role with Toronto. The first-place Blue Jays are going for it, and these two could be important additions down the stretch.
What does it give the Minnesota Twins
The retooling Twins get younger with this trade. In Roden, they add a contact-hitting outfielder with good on-base skills. The 25-year-old has little left to prove in the minors, but he did not impress in his first MLB call-up with the Blue Jays this season. He can now start fresh in Minnesota. Meanwhile, Rojas is a younger left-handed starter. He has been rising quickly in the minors and might be a contributor in a few seasons' time.
Fantasy impact
The players moved here are not impact players in fantasy baseball, but Varland might have the most use as a later-inning reliever. He should get a boost from this trade, with the potential to earn more holds for one of the league's top teams. Keep an eye on Roden, too, though he might be of more interest in coming seasons.
