Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
It wasn’t all that long ago when the Minnesota Twins opted to trade Jose Berrios. Instead of extending him to a long-term contract, they cashed in and got a haul from the Toronto Blue Jays. Both Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson appeared lofty as individual targets, but Derek Falvey landed both.
Since the Blue Jays have extended the former Twins ace, and they had hoped to see a greater level of development. Now with Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce in tow, it’s possible that Ross Atkins moves on from a former rotation fixture.
Jose Berrios available for trade from Toronto
When the Toronto Blue Jays added Jose Berrios they were looking to build a World Series contender. Now willing to trade him, they finished as the runner-up for a ring. The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon highlights how real of a possibility it may be.
Most likely, though, Ponce’s addition could instigate a significant winter trade, and the Jays, a league source said, are willing to listen on Berríos. The right-hander pitched through injury at the end of the 2025 season, lost his rotation spot, wasn’t on Toronto’s playoff roster at any point and departed from the team ahead of the World Series.
While Berríos has been a steady figure in Toronto’s rotation and clubhouse since 2021, a separation may be best for both sides. Adding Ponce, instead of a cheaper rotation depth option, signals that separation may be increasingly likely.
There was never a point in which it seemed like Berrios was a problem child for the Minnesota Twins. He had always trended towards a payday, but the Pohlads have often avoided that outcome during their tenure.
Berrios posted an awful 5.23 ERA (4.55 FIP) during his first season in Canada. He rebounded with a 3.65 ERA (3.99 FIP), but never found the form that earned him Cy Young votes during the year of his trade.
Last season Berrios owned a 4.17 ERA (4.65 FIP), and he has a career 4.09 ERA with Toronto. That’s hardly worth the $131 million the Blue Jays gave him over seven years. He is still owed nearly $70 million through 2028, and there’s zero chance he opts out after 2026.
Toronto’s rotation is now flush with options, and Berrios is both expensive while struggling to prove his worth. The Blue Jays will need to pay down his future considerations, but if they do, someone else could come calling.
Mentioned in this article: Jose Berrios
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