Jose Berrios has started all but one of his 274 career big league games, but the veteran starter now looks to be moving to the bullpen for the remainder of the Blue Jays’ 2025 campaign. Following the Jays’ ugly 20-1 loss to the Royals on Friday, manager John Schneider told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and other reporters about the somewhat fluid situation today, saying that Berrios “can still start for us,” but “he’s kind of an option if we need him on days like today and will be going forward.”
At the very least, Berrios will likely act as a reliever for the remainder of this weekend’s series in Kansas City. The Blue Jays have an off-day Monday before heading into their final homestand, which consists of three games with the Red Sox and a three-game set with the Rays. Toronto holds a three-game lead on the Yankees and a five-game lead on the Red Sox in the AL East title race, with the Jays holding tiebreakers over both teams.
A playoff berth is a virtual lock and a division title and homefield advantage throughout the AL playoffs are still distinct possibilities, so the Jays are in good shape heading into their last eight games, despite some poor recent results. Toronto has scored only two runs during its ongoing three-game losing streak, and Max Scherzer’s meltdown on Friday (seven earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning) raises concerns about his viability as a potential playoff starter.
Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber look like the only locks for a postseason rotation. Chris Bassitt may be the likeliest candidate for a third starter role, and rookie Trey Yesavage has suddenly inserted himself into the conversation after an impressive debut start in the majors. Scherzer’s vast track record still keeps him in the running, Eric Lauer has already been moved to the bullpen, and it looks like Berrios is now viewed as more of a reliever than a starter.
Berrios has a decent 4.06 ERA over 164 innings this season. However, his production is split between a 3.26 ERA in his first 17 starts (102 innings), and a much less effective 5.37 ERA in his most recent 13 starts (62 innings). Over his last seven outings in particular, Berrios has only once logged at least six innings.
Over the full season, Berrios’ Statcast numbers are average at best, and well below average in such key categories as strikeout rate (19.6%) and hard-hit ball rate (42.5%). The latter statistic ties into Berrios’ inflated 11.2% barrel rate, and his continued problems with keeping the ball in the park. Berrios has allowed 110 home runs since the start of the 2022 season, the most of any pitcher in baseball during that span.
A move to the pen might not necessarily solve this problem, and it could add to the difficulties for a Toronto bullpen that has already struggled to minimize opponents’ homers. But, Berrios’ durability could lend itself to a multi-inning role, or as a piggyback pitcher if the Blue Jays wanted to get a Yesavage or a Scherzer out of a game before opposing batters can see them for a third or even a second time. Berrios was seen loosening up in the bullpen during today’s game, but he wasn’t called upon to eat innings during the 19-run rout.
Dividi noted that last weekend, Berrios said he was feeling both mentally and physically run down as he neared the end of his tenth MLB season. “Maybe because I’m 31 years old now and I’m starting to feel some different things. But thank God I’ve been able to take the ball and go out there and pitch, nothing like, ‘Oh, I can’t pitch today,’ or I have to stay out for two weeks or a month,” Berrios said.
Though both Berrios’ physical state and his so-so results might warrant a bullpen role in October, Schneider didn’t approach the decision lightly, given the right-hander’s long history as a rotation staple. That said, Schneider said Berrios was open to the change.
“I think the position that we’re in now…kind of warrants some tough conversations at times and I feel like we just are trying to do what we can to win as many games as we can,” Schneider said. “He’s a professional. There’s a reason Jose Berrios is Jose Berrios. As uncomfortable as it is, I think he gets it.”
A longer-term role change doesn’t appear to be in the cards, perhaps in part due to Berrios’ contract. The righty is still owed $66MM from 2026-28, which breaks down as a $16MM salary next season and then $24MM in each of the final two years of his initial seven-year, $131MM extension. Berrios can opt out of the deal after the 2026 season, though he’d need to significantly improve his performance next year to make triggering that opt-out a real possibility.
Or they could deploy him as a hat or a brooch or a pterodactyl!
Santander is currently filling those roles.
There’s a sale at Penneys!
We only have Marshalls n Winners here.
You don’t see too many “Airplane ” references anymore. Well played. However you slice it, It sounds like a good problem to have until you see that an over 40 Max Scherzer and a guy just back from TJ surgery are supposedly the better options.
Surely there are better options than that.
There are better options, but DON’T call me Shirley.
Just wanna say good luck, we’re all counting on you.
we gotta get through to Chicago!
Looks like the end of a brilliant career for Max Scherzer. He was a credit to MLB!
We haven’t seen the last of Mad Max yet
I’ve actually been curious to see what he looks like out of the bullpen for a little while now. If he can bump his velocity up a little bit in shorter outings his slurve could play a bit better. Definitely has the best stuff to translate to the pen, IMO.
Guy should try playing the field. Maybe SS or RF? I like versatile athletes. Not enough of them in today’s game.
Last night was a perplexing use of the bullpen. It was the perfect time for a long man. Instead, they used 4 arms out of the pen and 2 position players to finish the game after Scherzer.
Berrios was in the pen. I get the sudden need for a guy in the first wouldn’t have given a normal starter like Berrios enough time to get warmed up so bringing in Fisher to finish the first and even cover the second was fine. But after that, it should have been Berrios to close out the game.
Tommy Nance threw 40 pitches and Yariel Rodríguez threw 37 pitches. They’re cooked for the next day or two I would imagine.
They used their long man for four outs the day before. Not long enough to save other arms that game but too many pitches presumably to be available yesterday. Going to Fisher on back to back days in really low leverage is perplexing. He’s been making his case for higher leverage.
What is this airplane you refer to, the team charter? Was thinking out of the box about utility usage and Toronto is in need of head adornments and prehistoric animals
No point bringing him at any point last night when whey were already down 7-1 right out of the gate
pathetic 20-1 loss Max Scherzer should be the one going into the pen, Without Bicheete this team is doomed,
Many like you have been saying this all season long and here they still sit atop the AL. Bichette is a large part of that but this is a deep lineup 1 thru 9
@Canuckleball
The Jays seem adverse to long men. The last one that could be considered their #6 starter of note was Rose Stripling. After last night’s performance it looks like IKF has supplanted Heineman as the bulk innings guy.
IKF interrupted Heineman’s 32 ERA
Where’s Manoah?
She passed away before the flood.
Jut saw him. He told me I could have it my way, so I asked him to add extra pickles to my Whopper.
He’s back on the donuts.
They should have done this and kept Lauer in the rotation.
I appreciate over a season you give the benefit of the doubt to experience but at this point you have to go with who’s actually performing.
Go in to the playoffs with beibs, gaus and lauer as the top 3, use trey and bassitt situationally based on match ups and bassitt at home only.
Berrios and max in the pen and tell max to air it out
1 game just 1 game but the baseball gods have put up a wall. It’s so weird. who will punch us through?
Annnnd we lost again, STILL cannot clinch a playoff spot. Just one game man ….argh
Sorry Jays fans. Watch closely over the next week to see how the Big Boys do it!!!