The Toronto Blue Jays had a top-tier pitching staff entering spring training. Due to the abundance of talented pitchers, veteran right-hander José Berríos is now competing for a starting spot.
MLB.com reports that Berríos dominated in Toronto’s 9–2 Grapefruit League win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 6. He allowed two runs in four innings. His 3.38 ERA in three exhibition games boded well for spring training.
A pitcher like Berríos is typically a rotation staple. The 30-year-old has won over 100 games. In 2021, he joined the Toronto Blue Jays from the Minnesota Twins on a seven-year, $131 million contract. However, Toronto’s aggressive offseason signings have changed the team’s pitching strategy and made playing time harder to come by.
Toronto’s Rotation Depth Creates Unexpected Competition
The Blue Jays’ pitching staff improved after spending a lot this winter. Toronto signed former Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract. Veteran ace Max Scherzer returned. The team’s strong core is led by Kevin Gausman, a reliable starter in recent years.
The team also hopes Shane Bieber will return early in the season after resting his forearms. Add another skilled arm to their team. Young pitchers like Trey Yesavage are also being considered for innings.
Berríos may face competition from Cody Ponce and Eric Lauer for the final rotation spot.
Toronto has needed reliable starting pitchers at the start of the year for years. This year differs. Now, the group must decide which good pitchers will start the season as backups or in the bullpen.
Berríos Showing Signs of Rebound
Although many talented players are competing for the job, Berríos’ spring performance demonstrates his ability to anchor a rotation.
In the last game, he had better control and a good pitch mix. Four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, changeup, and slurve. He is still good because he can control his fastball, which helps his other pitches make weak contact and miss swings.
Berríos has demonstrated success with this approach. One of his best seasons was 2024, when he went 16–11 with a 3.60 ERA in 32 starts. He went 9–5 with a 4.17 ERA in 31 games last season, though he wasn’t dominant.
However, the postseason showed how quickly roles can change for a contender. Berríos did not start any of Toronto’s games leading up to Game 7 of the World Series. This reflects the team’s changing expectations and deepening pitching staff.
Toronto may change its rotation.
The Blue Jays’ surplus of starting pitchers has opened the door for potential strategic adjustments early in the season.
Teams across baseball have increasingly experimented with six-man rotations in order to manage workloads and reduce injury risk, particularly for pitchers returning from injuries or long seasons. Toronto’s current depth could allow the club to explore a similar approach if it wants to keep multiple arms stretched out.
Even if the Blue Jays ultimately stick with a traditional five-man rotation, the presence of experienced starters like Berríos provides significant insurance if injuries arise during the season.
A team that wants to win the championship may have the best pitching depth, making spring training interesting.
Blue Jays Pitcher Facing Rotation Battle Despite $131M Contract