HOUSTON, TEXAS – JULY 18: Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros warms up before his start against the Baltimore Orioles at Daikin Park on July 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays made a bold bet for their rotation at the trade deadline as they sent off a pair of veterans and acquired a pair of win-now starters with future control in exchange.
Shortly after trading away Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs and acquiring Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels, Toronto followed with another major move involving one of its American League rivals.
The Blue Jays sent Daulton Varsho to the Houston Astros in exchange for Spencer Arrighetti, adding a 26-year-old, often injured starter to a rotation that has undergone a significant transformation.
“The Blue Jays sent Daulton Varsho across the diamond here in Houston to join the Astros, in a deal that netted them 26-year-old starter Spencer Arrighetti,” MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson reported at the time. “Arrighetti is another long-term addition for their rotation after landing Jose Soriano from the Angels in a big, splashy deal…”
Arrighetti’s first months with his new organization, however, have not been entirely straightforward. A right-foot issue had interrupted his progression, creating questions about when Toronto could actually count on its newest rotation piece.
But the Blue Jays may now have found a surprisingly simple answer to his setback.
Toronto Blue Jays Find Simple Solution For Injured Houston Astros Starter Spencer Arrighetti
Arrighetti recently provided encouraging news after making a rehabilitation appearance for Triple-A Buffalo. According to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, Arrighetti reported having no pain in his right foot during Sunday’s outing after switching to a different cleat and using a new insole.
The adjustment appears to have made an immediate difference.
“Arrighetti told me the staff made him custom insoles to cover (the) area where the nerve has been irritated to support it and give it a little bit more stability,” Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae reported. “‘I haven’t felt the pain since and everything feels great,’” Arrighetti told her.
That doesn’t mean the Blue Jays can immediately erase all concerns surrounding his health, but eliminating the pain during a rehab outing represents an important step for a pitcher the organization acquired with a much larger role in mind.
Toronto Blue Jays’ New Starter Spencer Arrighetti Could Be Close To Return After Houston Astros Trade
The next step could come quickly.
Davidi reported that Arrighetti was scheduled to throw a side session Monday, after which Toronto would determine his next assignment. Manager John Schneider indicated that his next outing could potentially come with the Blue Jays’ big-league club.
That would be significant for Toronto as the team did not acquire Arrighetti simply to provide organizational depth. The former Astros starter was part of a broader effort to build a younger, more sustainable rotation, and his ability to return healthy could give Toronto another important weapon during its playoff push and for next season.
For now, the encouraging development is that the solution to Arrighetti’s foot problem may have been considerably less complicated than Blue Jays’ fans initially feared.