By Shaun McAvoyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Toronto Blue Jays pulled off one of the biggest moves of the offseason, agreeing to a seven-year, $210 million contract with veteran pitcher Dylan Cease, as reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan.
After a devastating World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Blue Jays went into the offseason ready to be aggressive in their pursuit of top talent. Bringing in the 29-year-old would give Toronto a star pitcher to build its rotation around for years to come, but could be bad news for another one of its pitchers.
With the Blue Jays reportedly coming to terms with Cease on a massive contract, The Athletic's Mitch Bannon suggested that 31-year-old hurler José Berríos may become expendable to open up money and space for another big addition.
"Cease may not even be the final rotation move," Bannon wrote Thursday. "A trade could open the money and roster space for a more significant addition, too. They’d have a candidate in Berríos. While Berríos was one of baseball’s most reliable starters for his entire career, the righty posted a 4.17 ERA in 2025, suffered an elbow injury and lost his rotation spot at the end of the year.
..."Owed $18.7 million in 2026 before a player opt-out, the Jays could look to move Berríos after four years in Toronto. Even if the 31-year-old remains with the Jays, he’ll have to earn a rotation spot again in spring training, another reason to add more depth. No matter what direction they go next, the Jays have already signaled clear aggression."
Berríos is a two-time All-Star, and despite a down year, likely would draw interest if the Blue Jays made him available to trade. The 31-year-old veteran has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the league, starting 30 or more games every season since 2018, besides the shortened 2020 season, but could be the odd man out in a crowded Toronto rotation.
After coming so close to winning the World Series this season, don't expect the Blue Jays to be quiet this offseason.
More MLB: Blue Jays Make Under-Radar Pitching Move Amid Dylan Cease News
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
MLBHow Blue Jays’ Reported Dylan Cease Deal Already Looks Genius2 min read
MLBYankees All-Star Projected To Sign 3-Year, $51 Million Deal After Down Year2 min read
MLBRed Sox Reportedly Targeting $182M Star After Sonny Gray Blockbuster Trade2 min read
MLBMets Star Projected To Sign Huge 4-Year, $92M Deal After Incredible Season2 min read
MLBRed Sox Star Projected To Sign 3-Year, $66M Deal After Sonny Gray Trade2 min read
MLBRed Sox Reportedly Targeting $160M Slugger After Blue Jays-Dylan Cease Deal2 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
NewsTrump’s Reported Plan to Hand Russia Ukrainian Territories Sparks Outrage4 min read
NewsUncommon Knowledge: On Black Friday, Payday Lenders Are Now Armed With AI5 min read
NewsMap Shows Where Significant Snow Will Disrupt Post-Thanksgiving Travel3 min read
U.S.Trump No Longer Held Criminally Accountable for Trying To Overturn Election5 min read
U.S.DC Shooting Suspect Facing Upgraded Charge as ‘Many More’ to Come5 min read
U.S.Gas Prices Slip to Over 4 Year Low Amid Inflation Concerns4 min readTrending
New York8 Million Inflation Refund Checks Sent Out Ahead of Thanksgiving4 min read
WalmartWalmart Recall Update: Customers Warned ‘Immediately Stop’ Using Products4 min read
WeatherWinter Storm Warning As 14 inches of Snow To Strike: ‘Delay All Travel’3 min read
CatholicPope Leo Updates Marriage Rules for 1.4 Billion Catholics3 min read
WeatherMap Shows Where Significant Snow Will Disrupt Post-Thanksgiving Travel3 min readOpinion
OpinionRedefining Professional Degrees Will Hurt Everyday Americans | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAI Is Coming for Our Most Intimate Communications. Congress Must Act | Opinion5 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Thanksgiving Tragedies Edition3 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Anti-Thanksgiving Edition3 min read
OpinionHow to Remain Grounded and Thankful Amid the Chaos5 min read
