Blue Jays, Jose Berrios agree to seven-year, $131M extension

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

Blue Jays, two-time All-Star SP Jose Berrios agree to seven-year, $131 million contract extension

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 11/16/21

With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette among other young studs leading a lethal Toronto Blue Jays offense last season, the AL East squad is turning its attention to shoring up their starting rotation. On Tuesday, they locked up a 27-year-old two-time All-Star who they hope will be at the top of their rotation for years to come.

Jose Berrios is in agreement on a long-term deal with the #BlueJays pending physical. @JonHeyman had deal 1st. @jonmorosi reporting it is a 7-year deal
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 16, 2021

Berrios’ contract is for 7 years, $131M as @ShiDavidi reported. That buys out final year of arbitration plus six free agent years.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 16, 2021

MLB Network Insider Joel Sherman noted in a follow-up tweet that Berrios -- a former first-round draft pick who earned All-Star nods with the Minnesota Twins in 2018 and 2019 -- has been "among MLB's most durable starters," as his 108 starts in the last four years are tied for second-most in the league.

After a solid 2017 season when he went 14-8 with a 3.89 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, Berrios was even better in 2018, despite posting a 12-11 record. The native of Puerto Rico ranked inside MLB's top-10 that season in games started with 32 (sixth), hits per nine innings at 7.4 (seventh), innings pitched with 192.1 (eighth), WHIP at 1.14 (ninth) and strikeouts per nine innings at 9.4 (10th).

Berrios was 14-8 with a 3.68 ERA (eighth) and 1.22 WHIP (eighth) in 2019 and his career-high 200.1 innings pitched placed him eighth in the league. After a 5-4 campaign in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Berrios made his final 20 starts of his Twins career in 2021 before he was traded to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline.

Between Minnesota and Toronto, Berrios finished the most recent MLB season at 12-9 and with career-best marks in ERA (3.52), WHIP (1.06) and strikeouts (204). Berrios' WHIP was third in the league, while he placed fifth in ERA and strikeouts.

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