The Toronto Blue Jays’ 2025 season was special. Contributions came from all different players on the roster, and they made it to Game Seven of the World Series against the eventual champion, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Blue Jays’ rotation provided many bright moments, whether it was ace , deadline acquisition , or rookie phenom . The pitchers showed up. One name who didn’t factor in for the entirety of the playoffs was 10-year veteran . Nicknamed “La Makina” for the durability that he has showcased, he would routinely take the ball every fifth day en route to six straight seasons of 32 starts (excluding the COVID season of 2020, where Berríos made 12, which was the equivalent of 32) until the 2025 campaign. Sep 2, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Berríos was the Blue Jays’ Opening Day starter in 2025, taking the ball back on Mar. 27, when the Blue Jays kicked off the campaign by hosting the Baltimore Orioles. By the season’s final month, though, the team made a major move. In September, the Blue Jays moved Berríos to the bullpen, as they went with a four-man rotation as they fought to hunt down the American League East title and number one seed in the American League. The bullpen experiment lasted one outing, as Berríos went two innings, giving up three earned runs against the Boston Red Sox. Two days later, on Sept. 26, Berríos went on the injured list for the first time in his career with elbow inflammation, wrapping up the year with a 9-5 record, 4.17 ERA, and 1.301 WHIP across 166 innings. Could the Blue Jays Move On from Ace Berríos? Through the postseason, there weren’t any Berríos sightings, even as other injured players, and , were seen in the team’s dugout. This prompted questions about the whereabouts of the team’s Opening Day starter. General Manager Ross Atkins answered those questions when speaking to the media in Orlando at the MLB Winter Meetings, talking about why Berríos wasn’t there for the run. “He was not happy. He was disappointed that he wasn’t in our rotation, said Atkins on Berríos, adding, “He handled it well, but then when it came down to roster s********, he wasn’t on it.” Berríos is still under contract next season for $19 million, but then comes an opt-out clause, or he can opt to stay with the Blue Jays for two more years at $24 million per year until the completion of the 2028 season. The Blue Jays got the offseason started with Bieber exercising his $16 million player option for next year, signing to a , and then adding , the KBO’s league MVP from last season, to a three-year, $30-million deal. The Blue Jays appear to have Gausman, , Bieber, Cease, and Ponce all lined up to start next season, with depth options in and Bowden Francis, leaving a frustrated José Berríos potentially open to a trade. Here are some teams that could make a good fit for the 31-year-old right-hander. Three Landing Spots for José Berríos in a Potential Trade San Francisco Giants With a rotation anchored by and at the top, Berríos could slot in as a perfect number three, replacing , who pitched last season with the club on a . Berríos and Webb are two pitchers who consistently take the ball, as Webb has started 32, 33, 33, 34 games in each of the past four years, giving the Giants two workhorses at the top of the rotation. The crew discuss Jose Berrios and what the future holds for him with the Blue Jays. — TSN (@TSN_Sports) Berríos could also provide a veteran, mentorship-type role to some of the Giants’ young arms in , , and , to name a few. The Giants have a bunch of young outfielders in , , and that the Blue Jays could look for in return, as and are both pending free agents after 2026. Philadelphia Phillies The Phillies are in their win-now window, a team with a high payroll that could take a shot at Berríos coming in to help round out this rotation. is an ace, but coming off surgery in September due to blood clotting, with a six-to-eight month recovery period. is coming off a season where he pitched to a 6.01 ERA, was elite, finishing runner-up to in National League voting, and then fit in nicely with a 15-7 record and 3.92 ERA. That leaves one opening in the rotation, with being a free agent. Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies could take a swing at bringing in Berríos to help round out the rotation, giving more time as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Painter could work his way back in a bullpen role for next season, and with the Wheeler retirement rumours swirling after 2027, he can set himself up to claim a role the following year. The Phillies could offer a prospect from the lower levels to the Blue Jays in return for Berríos, as the Blue Jays build back up the farm system. A young arm like could intrigue the Blue Jays. San Diego Padres Padres General Manager A.J. Preller has never been shy about makin...
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