A major piece of news broke recently about a rival team’s pitcher in the American League East. The future confidence in Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios may put him on the market, piquing the New York Yankees’ interest.
The Yankees Could Dabble in Some American League East Pitcher Drama
Bit by bit so far this offseason, the market maneuvered, and players were shuffled team to team. Unfortunately, the Yankees have not been a part of any major signings or acquisitions. The club needs to improve various areas to be competitive in 2026.
Recently, talk of starting pitching has been on the rise, and the Yankees could try to enhance their rotation. There are multiple names on the free-agent and trade markets, and recently, one pitcher’s unhappiness became public.
Berrios is a veteran in this game, with 10 years of Major League experience. Unfortunately, his 2025 season did not allow him to feel his worth. His performance and treatment from his team may have caused some turmoil.
Berrios Left High and Dry By Toronto
The right-handed pitcher was traded to the Blue Jays in 2021 from the Minnesota Twins. Despite a rougher season in 2022, Berrios was a pivotal piece in Toronto’s rotation. He was a trusted arm in both MLB play and the World Baseball Classic for Team Puerto Rico.
Fast forward to the 2025 season, and things took a turn. Berrios actually started the year pitching well. He went 9-5 with 166 innings of work. The right-hander then fell to injury with inflammation in his elbow.
This sidelined the Blue Jays starter for the remainder of the season, near the end. He did not pitch at all in the postseason. When he was cleared to return, the Blue Jays gave him a role in the bullpen, due to an established postseason rotation.
The team went out and traded for Shane Bieber, while including Trey Yesavage in the rotation. This did not sit well with Berrios, as he expected a rotation spot, especially since he had been a starter in other Blue Jays postseason runs.
This led to some salty feelings from the right-hander. Berrios then apparently stepped away from the team in their journey to the World Series. During the winter meetings, general manager Ross Atkins allegedly confirmed that Berrios was unhappy with the decisions; however, their relationship remained “solid”.
Such an occurrence could create tension in a clubhouse, portraying poor team-first character and low-end sportsmanship. It would be surprising if Berrios returned to the same club that did him “wrong”.
The Yankees Could Take Advantage of this Drama
There’s a chance the Blue Jays will be willing to trade Berrios. Is there an issue with how he acted? In most people’s eyes, yes; however, his overall feelings were warranted. Berrios was brought in as a starter, not a reliever.
His overall performance could argue for him being there; however, recovering from an elbow issue will create doubt. The Yankees could dabble in the idea of trading for Berrios, who probably wouldn’t mind playing for Toronto rivals at this point.
As long as he’s healthy, Berrios will offer 140-plus innings; he’s a strikeout machine and usually keeps a decent ERA. Berrios is projected to win 9-10 games. This could be a solid option for the Yankees to fill a sixth-man role.
He has three years left on his contract in Toronto with a 2027 opt-out clause. This could be an interesting thought for the Yankees.
Main Photo Credits: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
