"After making his Major League debut at 24 years old the year before, he blossomed into a powerful left-handed stick that contributed immensely during the Blue Jays' World Series run. This offseason, the Blue Jays were rumoured to be in the market for a high-end bat, such as outfielders Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger. Those two bats have now signed elsewhere, creating an opportunity for Barger to earn full-time play in right field."
"His defensive metrics speak for themselves. In 2025, he posted a .970 fielding percentage in right field and his fielding-run-value of +1 in right field bested his mark of negative one at third base. Barger also led the American League with nine outfield assists, trailing Mike Yastrzemski by two for the Major League lead. Barger is by no means a premier defender in the league, though he has proven to be more consistent in right field in his young career."
Addison Barger emerged as a powerful left-handed bat and key contributor during Toronto's World Series run, creating a clear path to everyday duty after the club missed out on trade targets. He transitioned from middle infield to a versatile defensive role at third base and right field, posting a .970 fielding percentage and +1 fielding-run-value in right, outperforming his -1 at third. Barger led the American League with nine outfield assists and ranked second in arm velocity at 97mph (99th percentile). With Kazuma Okamoto joining as a corner infielder and Daulton Varsho in center, Barger projects best suited for right field in 2026.
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