Getting tired of the Atlanta Braves being rumored to trade for starting pitchers? They likely won’t stop until Alex Anthopoulos makes a real move to improve the starting rotation. All offseason, the Braves have been rumored as potential destinations for all the top “available” starters in the trade market (Joe Ryan, Mitch Keller, Jose Berrios).
With the Toronto Blue Jays‘ recent decision to bring back Max Scherzer on a one-year deal for his 19th season in MLB, where does that leave starter Jose Berrios? Berrios has been the subject of trade rumors for most of the offseason, stemming from the Blue Jays trying to find a trade partner willing to take on his seven-year, $131 million contract.
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Should the Braves Consider Taking on Jose Berrios’ Contract?
There have been several reports from Braves camp that upper management has not been engaged in some of the top available free agent starters. Does this mean Atlanta truly isn’t interested in adding a starter? Or are they just being cautious on who they financially commit to?
It took no time for Anthopoulos to extend Chris Sale to a one-year, $27 million deal, but the Braves’ GM doesn’t want to allocate any other funds to his rotation?
GettyJose Berrios is looking to move on from a bad decision.
It’s an interesting scenario, but the fact of the Braves needing another starter before Opening Day remains. After a disastrous 2025 season in terms of rotation injuries, the Braves aren’t doing much to put themselves in a better spot as 2026 approaches.
There is still about a month left until Opening Day, which gives Atlanta plenty of time to pull off a trade for a notable arm, like two-time All-Star Jose Berrios.
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Braves Trade Idea Lands Jose Berrios
Earlier this offseason, the Braves were floated as a potential landing spot for Jose Berrios, and with Atlanta starters Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach set to open up the season on the 60-day IL, trading for Berrios only makes more sense.
However, it would likely cost the Braves a few players, including a top prospect or two. But Atlanta also has Ozzie Albies and Nacho Alvarez Jr. on its current roster, which might be compelling enough pieces for Toronto to move on from Berrios if Atlanta takes a chunk of the contract.
The biggest reason for this trade idea working, though, is the Blue Jays not really requiring Jose Berrios in the rotation anymore. They already were easing him out of the starting five at the end of the 2025 season, and Toronto went out and acquired Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce in free agency, along with Max Scherzer.
If Berrios is actually dealt, it would likely be before the 2026 season, but there’s been less chatter in recent weeks about where the Blue Jays and Berrios stand.
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Braves-Blue Jays Trade Pitch Lands $131 All-Star Starter