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Toronto Blue Jays Roster: The One Move Guaranteed to Happen in Offseason
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- Toronto Blue Jays Roster: The One Move Guaranteed to Happen in Offseason
(John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
Last week, we attempted to calculate how much money the Toronto Blue Jays would have to spend this offseason , at least if the league's financial situation stays the same as it is now.
We did this for the purpose of trying to estimate who the Jays could go after in free agency, but before we even really think of that stuff, it's fair to point this out:
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There is one move that's guaranteed to happen this offseason, and that's the return of Jose Berrios.
The Berrios situation
Signed to a seven-year, $131 million deal in 2022, Berrios just completed the fifth year of his contract. However, he didn't pitch at all because of Tommy John surgery that he underwent early in the season. Injured at the end of spring training, he made four minor league rehab appearances trying to come back, but pitched to an ERA of 10.67 in that time.
Berrios has two years and $48 million left on his contract, but he also has an opt-out available after this season.
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Had Berrios pitched well in 2026, then he could have opted-out and sought a more lucrative long-term deal worth more money, but since he didn't pitch at all, he's guaranteed to take the money and try to test the open market again after 2028.
But again, no one knows the league's financials situation will look like then. Either way, Berrios isn't passing up $48 million guaranteed dollars.
He'll attempt to come back in 2027 and play a role for the Jays, though it's not clear when he'll be healthy and what role he'll play.
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) pitches to the Houston Astros during the first inning at Rogers Centre. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Berrios file
Now 32 years old, Berrios is a 10-year veteran of the Minnesota Twins and Blue Jays. A two-time All-Star, he's 108-82 lifetime with a 4.08 ERA.
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After a solid season in 2024, he regressed in 2025, going 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA. He only struck out 138 batters in 166.0 innings. He was on the injured list at the end of the season with right elbow inflammation and missed the team's run to the World Series. Evidently, that elbow inflammation did not improve over the offseason, which is what eventually led to the Tommy John surgery.
The Blue Jays missed him this season, as he was one of several pitchers that took a turn on the injured list. Toronto had more than 2,200 total days missed because of injury this year, near the most in the league.
