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By Shaun McAvoy
Contributing Sports Writer
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The 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.
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"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.
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"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
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