/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn-tor.buminteractif.com%2F2025%2F11%2F27233508%2FBerrios-1024x576-1-1.jpg)
The Blue Jays have one of the best rotations in Major League Baseball. Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios, in no particular order, are currently the club's five starters.
Eric Lauer, Bowden Francis and a host of other prospects will also be fighting for a place in the sun at the next camp.
And now a topic has surfaced: could the Blue Jays use their depth to get rid of a starting pitcher, in order to save money, make room and look elsewhere for reinforcements?
The first four names aren't going anywhere. If anything like that happens, Berrios would be the target.
And it would appear that the possibility exists. Without saying it's likely (quite the contrary), journalist Mitch Bannon (The Athletic) has opened the door to the possibility.
In a piece on the subject, he mentioned Berrios as a candidate to be traded.
Top starting pitcher:
But the #BlueJays‘ offseason isn't over yet:https://t.co/esGKj6Vj6C
– Mitch Bannon (@MitchBannon) November 27, 2025
I don't see how the Blue Jays would benefit from trading one of their most reliable pitchers of recent years following one of his worst career seasons, when his market value must be pretty low.
He has three years left on his contract, but has an opt-out in one year – which he'll use only if he has a good 2026 season. Which team will go for him at the right price under the circumstances?
Berrios will earn $18 million in 2026. If he stays on his contract, he'll earn $24 million a year in 2027 and 2028.
If the Blue Jays were to trade him, they would have to replace him. And I don't know about you, but I prefer Berrios, who can only resurface in 2026, to Max Scherzer or any other pitcher currently on the market.
Max Scherzer stated recently that there's “unfinished business” in Toronto, and that he would want to come back to try to win a championship with this group.
How would you feel about bringing Scherzer back for one more season? pic.twitter.com/DJtTMZMCMZ
– SleeperBlueJays (@SleeperBlueJays) November 27, 2025
I get the impression that for Berrios (and even Anthony Santander, among hitters), people tend to take him out of the equation too much after just one ugly season and underestimate the depth needed in a pitching staff.
I'm not saying he'll be a machine again in 2026… but the guy's bought himself the benefit of the doubt. No?
This content was created with the help of AI.
