The Toronto Blue Jays are open to making a trade.
Toronto has been active this offseason, signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal and Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million deal. Both expect to be part of the Blue Jays’ rotation, which appears to be overcrowded.
Toronto has a rotation that features Kevin Gausman, Cease, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, Ponce, and Jose Berrios. However, Blue Jays insider Mitch Bannon of The Athletic believes Toronto is open to trading Berrios.
“Ponce’s addition could instigate a significant winter trade, and the Jays, a league source said, are willing to listen on BerrĂos,” Bannon wrote. “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 BerrĂos 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.”
Berrios is in the midst of his seven-year, $131 million deal with the Blue Jays and is owed $19 million in 2026. He has a player opt-out in 2027 when he’s owed $24 million for 2027 and 2028.
The right-hander struggled last season, as he had an injury down the stretch and didn’t pitch in the playoffs. He also was not in the dugout or with the team during the World Series.
Berrios went 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 31 games last season.
Blue Jays Expect Berrios to be Ready for Spring
Following Toronto’s heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of the World Series, general manager Ross Atkins was asked about Berrios.
The right-hander was shut down due to right elbow inflammation, but Atkins said at the year-end press conference that Berrios is expected to be ready for spring training.
“(He) should have a completely normal off-season and be ready for spring training. He’s in a good position physically,” Atkins said.
Berrios’ injury stint came after he was removed from the Blue Jays’ rotation and moved to the bullpen. He pitched once out of the bullpen before being shut down, and Berrios made it clear that he wasn’t happy with the team’s decision.
“Honestly, I don’t feel happy to talk about it,” said Berrios about the move to the bullpen. “But, putting that aside, I put my team first. So, I was able to be out there with my team. That’s the way I see it. …
“Obviously, right now, with where the team’s at, we need to do our best. And that’s the only care I have,” Berrios added. “To go out there in the bullpen and do my best. I know the team needs it. So, hopefully I can do it.”
With how the season ended and Berrios’ frustration with the Blue Jays, perhaps a trade is most likely.
Toronto Goes After Pitching
The Blue Jays have been active this offseason, and their two big moves are pitching.
Cease is a front-of-the-rotation arm, while Ponce is likely a backend starter for Toronto. Regardless, the Blue Jays entered the offseason making pitching their priority.
Cease is a proven commodity in the MLB and went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA last season with the San Diego Padres.
Ponce, 31, went 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA in 29 starts over 180.2 innings, along with 252 strikeouts in the KBO last season. He was named the KBO League MVP. He also won the Choi Dong-won Award as the league’s top starting pitcher.
