All of the pitching additions the Toronto Blue Jays have made this offseason may have one former All-Star on the outside looking in on the starting rotation.
The Blue Jays have been one of the active teams this offseason after just falling short in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Toronto made one of the biggest moves in free agency, signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract, and has continued to add pitching depth by bringing in Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers and Chase Lee.
The Blue Jays are loading up for another postseason run, but after a down year, 31-year-old hurler José Berríos may end up having to change his role on the team, according to The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon.
“Unlike the rest of the pitchers in this bullpen battle section, Berríos — if he’s not traded — will be fighting for a way out of the bullpen and back to the rotation,” Bannon wrote Friday. “But if Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Cody Ponce and Trey Yesavage make it through spring healthy, Berríos may find himself back in the relief mix.
“Regardless of role, the Jays need Berríos to bounce back next season. Berríos struggled through a bicep injury all year, the righty revealed on MLB Network, and tweaked his elbow in late September. Perhaps health can return Berríos to reasonable form. If not, the Jays may face a similar roster dilemma to the one that caused issues at the end of 2025.”
Berríos had one of the worst seasons of his career, posting a 4.17 ERA this season, and with all of the Blue Jays’ new additions, he may be the odd man out of the starting rotation. The 31-year-old was left off Toronto’s rotation in the playoffs, and continues to be involved in trade rumors.
Berríos is a solid bounce back candidate for next season, but the former All-Star is going to have to prove himself in a stacked Blue Jays pitching staff.
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