ORLANDO — José Berríos has been a staple in the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation since the 2021 trade deadline. But his tenure in Toronto may be at a crossroads.

The 31-year-old was removed from the Jays’ starting rotation in September and was not on the club’s roster throughout the postseason. He wasn’t an active member during the club’s many playoff celebrations and departed from the team ahead of the World Series. At the Winter Meetings on Monday, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins shed light on the relationship between the Jays and Berríos. It’s a relationship that may require repair or, ultimately, a trade.

“He was disappointed that he wasn’t in our rotation,” Atkins said. “He handled it well. But then when it came down to roster selection, he wasn’t on it, right?”

The Jays, a league source said, are open to moving Berríos, but it’s unclear if the club will be able to move him with three years and $66 million remaining on his contract. He owns a player opt out after the 2026 season, but is unlikely to take it given recent performance. In 2025, Berríos posted a 4.17 ERA, the second-highest mark of his career. His fielding independent pitching (FIP) and expected ERA were even higher. Despite a track record of reliability and durability, that’s not a contract that would be easily moved without creativity or eating money.

If Berríos returns to the Jays, he must compete for a spot in a busy rotation after the signings of Cody Ponce and Dylan Cease. Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage all seem destined for starting jobs, too, with Eric Lauer in the mix, as well. With an excess of rotation options, the Jays could look to move Berríos and reallocate any savings to address needs in the bullpen or lineup.

Berríos has not requested a trade, another league source said. Both he and the Jays are open to the right-hander returning and competing for a rotation spot in spring. Atkins said the Jays hope Berríos can be a starter in 2026, but a return may require reconciliation. It wouldn’t be the first time that relations between a club and player were mended amid a long-term contract.

“We’re never going to have a situation where we have 40 players or even 26 players that are feeling great about the opportunity that they were given,” Atkins said. “Even when you go to the last game of the World Series.”

When asked why Berríos was not seen around the Jays much in the postseason, Atkins said it was the starter’s decision. He was with the club through the end of the American League Championship Series, but left ahead of the World Series. At the end of the postseason, Atkins said Berríos left to be with his family.

“I think he was just having a tough time,” Atkins said Monday.

Before the final days of the regular season, Berríos hadn’t missed a start since 2017. He owned the longest active games started streak in the big leagues before the Jays removed him from the rotation. In his first appearance out of the bullpen, the righty suffered an elbow injury and didn’t throw another pitch in the regular season or playoffs. With a 5.45 ERA in Berríos’ final eight outings of 2025, it’s unclear if the Jays would’ve rostered him in the playoffs even if he was healthy.

Now, the Jays must decide if Berríos can contribute to the 2026 club. He’s healthy and feeling strong, Atkins said Monday. But, with the Jays currently planning for Cease, Ponce, Gausman, Bieber and Yesavage to start the season in the rotation, there isn’t a clear spot for Berríos. The Jays, Atkins said, will see about a six-man rotation once the season starts.

Barring injury, the Jays could end up in the exact same uncomfortable situation with Berríos next spring, without a rotation spot for the reliable veteran. It’s certainly good to have starting depth. Often, these sorts of issues sort themselves out through injury. But the only way for the Jays to guarantee they avoid another tough decision with Berríos is to, if possible, trade the starter this offseason.