WEST SACRAMENTO -- After dealing with a pair of cysts in his left wrist that were limiting his mobility and causing him pain for three months, Astros veteran outfielder Daulton Varsho was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday in a move that ends his season and could keep him out of a potential playoff run.
Varsho, acquired by the Astros at the Trade Deadline from Toronto in exchange for pitcher Spencer Arrighetti, slashed .172/.224/.311 with five homers in 151 at-bats for the Astros, falling short of the production Houston had hoped he would bring to their offensively challenged outfield. Varsho last played Saturday against the Braves.
The Astros selected the contract of outfielder Jorge Barrosa to the Major League roster, adding him for the final four games of the regular season. Right-hander Jason Alexander was designated for assignment.
“It sucks,” Varsho said. “I’ve been dealing with it for three months, and it’s gotten to the point it’s frustrating because I can’t go out there and perform as well as I want to, and I’m not able to get to the pitches that I’ve normally hit throughout my whole career. It’s just hindering my play.”
Varsho said the cysts are pushing on a ligament that’s creating some inflammation and limiting his wrist mobility. He’s not able to bend the wrist all the way back like he needs to, and will seek a second opinion Monday. Varsho said surgery is an option.
“The pain just became too much,” he said. “Every swing I was taking in games, I was like, ‘This is killing me.’ It doesn’t really make sense and I’m really not having good results from it. I was kind of hurting myself and the team at the same time. It’s one of the frustrating things. I know when I’m healthy and I’m there, I hit a lot more pitches than I was at that point.”
Varsho said he’s tried changing his mechanics and had a cortisone shot while with the Blue Jays, but the injury just got worse.
“It’s unfortunate that it had to end that way,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He’s been battling it for a long time. I don’t think we ever saw the best version of him.”
A free agent after this season, Varsho was slashing .243/.307/.375 with 19 doubles, seven home runs and 26 RBIs in 99 games this year for the Blue Jays before he was dealt. Last year, he launched 20 home runs in only 71 games while battling shoulder and hamstring injuries. He started all 18 games of Toronto’s run to the World Series, hitting .227 with three homers, including one in the World Series.