The Toronto Blue Jays are acquiring right-handed pitcher Louis Varland and infielder Ty France from the Minnesota Twins, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi confirmed Thursday.
Outfielder Alan Roden and left-handed pitching prospect Kendry Rojas are going to Minnesota as the return.
Varland, 27, has been excellent in relief for the Twins, posting a 2.02 ERA in 49 innings of work. The four-year MLB veteran has struck out 47 hitters, walked just 13 and allowed only three home runs in 2025.
Armed with a fastball, knuckle curve, sinker and slider, Varland made the full-time shift to bullpen work after making starts in each of his first three MLB seasons.
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He won't become arbitration-eligible until the end of the 2026 campaign and is under team control through 2030.
France, meanwhile, signed with the Twins on a one-year, $1 million contract in February. The 31-year-old infielder has played 101 games for Minnesota at first base, slashing .251/.320/.357 with six home runs and 19 doubles.
An all-star with the Mariners in 2022, France was dealt from Seattle to Cincinnati last July. The Reds cut ties with France ahead of the off-season, making him a free agent.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told reporters Thursday evening that he expects Varland and France to join the team for Friday's series opener against the Kansas City Royals in Toronto.
Meanwhile, heading back to Minnesota are Toronto's No. 6 prospect, Rojas, and the 25-year-old Roden.
Roden made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays earlier this year, breaking camp with the team out of spring training. He did struggle, however, posting just a .204/.283/.306 slash line in 43 games. The left-handed hitting outfielder also owned a .918 OPS in 32 games at triple-A this year.
Rojas, 22, had been impressive for the Blue Jays in double-A this season, pitching to a 3.86 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. He was recently promoted to triple-A and allowed six earned runs in his Buffalo debut on Wednesday.
The move capped Toronto's deadline action. The Blue Jays ultimately added Varland, France, Seranthony Dominguez, Shane Bieber and catching prospect Brandon Valenzuela as they load up for the final two months of the season.
