New development regarding the Blue Jays trade plans for Jose Berrios
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Victor William
Feb 8, 2026 (5:21 PM)
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Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
José Berrios and the Blue Jays are playing a dangerous game of chicken, and the silence from both camps is starting to feel heavier than a 100-mph fastball.
This story has sat, stale, since the 2025 season ended in heartbreak and confusion.
Berrios ended the year with a move to the bullpen, an IL stint for elbow inflammation, and a decision to stay home during the World Series rather than watch from the dugout.
He was "not happy," according to Ross Atkins, and who can blame him?
Now, with Spring Training just days away, the Blue Jays have a rotation that is arguably too deep for its own good.
We are looking at a projected starting five of Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Shane Bieber, Chris Bassitt, and the phenom Trey Yesavage.
That leaves Berrios (Drafted Round 1, 2012 by Minnesota) as the odd man out, staring at a $19 million check and a role that doesn't exist.
The math is brutal: six capable starters, five spots, and one very expensive, very proud veteran who has never been a backup option in his life.
His 4.17 ERA in 31 starts last year was respectable, but "respectable" doesn't guarantee you the ball in a rotation this stacked.
The "La Makina" pride factor cannot be ignored
Berrios isn't just a pitcher; he's a routine-oriented machine who thrives on certainty.
Asking him to be a "swingman" or a "long reliever" is like asking a racehorse to pull a plow—it’s a waste of pedigree.
The boring answer from the front office is that "these things take care of themselves" via injury.
But Berrios has been an iron man for a decade, making 32 starts like clockwork until last year's elbow flare-up.
Trading him seems logical, but who is taking on $66 million through 2028 for a guy coming off an injury scare?
The Blue Jays are stuck in a purgatory of their own making: too loyal to cut him, too rich to dump him, and too good to start him.
Expect the first day of camp to be awkward.
If Berrios shows up smiling and ready to compete, crisis averted.
But if he shows up with the same energy he left with in October, this clubhouse could get uncomfortable very quickly.
We all want a happy ending where he reclaims his spot and dominates, but hope is not a strategy.
This is the first real test of the 2026 season, and not a single pitch has been thrown yet.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 8|397 ANSWERS New development regarding the Blue Jays trade plans for Jose Berrios Do you believe José Berríos will be in the Blue Jays' Opening Day starting rotation? | ||
| Yes | 129 | 32.5 % |
| No | 268 | 67.5 % |
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