Blue Jays to use 'run-down' veteran starter as relief pitcher

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 Toronto Blue Jays’ 2025 campaign. Following the Jays’ ugly 20-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Friday, manager John Schneider told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and other reporters about the somewhat fluid situation, 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 on Monday before heading into their final homestand, which consists of three games with the Boston Red Sox and a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays. Toronto holds a three-game lead on the New York 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.

How the Blue Jays' postseason rotation is shaping up

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 Friday’s game, but he wasn’t called upon to eat innings during the 19-run rout.

Jose Berrios feeling 'mentally and physically run down'

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 $66M from 2026-28, which breaks down as a $16M salary next season and then $24M in each of the final two years of his initial seven-year, $131M 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.