Jose Berrios' absence from Blue Jays' World Series run explained: 'Not happy'

ORLANDO, Fla. — Throughout his career with the Blue Jays, starting pitcher Jose Berrios has been one of the more positive and popular players in the Toronto clubhouse.

All that made his absence from the team during the riveting World Series more glaring and perplexing.

General manager Ross Atkins acknowledged on Monday that Berrios took the demotion hard, which led to his decision not to be with the team.

‘He was not happy’

“He was not happy,” Atkins said of Berrios in his suite here at the Winter Meetings. “He was disappointed that he wasn’t in our rotation.

“It’s always tough when someone of his pedigree is not in the rotation. Sure, he was not excited with that decision. And having to be the one that makes it, it makes it very difficult.”

Atkins’ characterization of the Berrios reaction on Monday was more detailed than the one he offered in his post-season press conference days after the Game 7 World Series defeat the the Dodgers. At the time, the GM said Berrios “just had to be with his family. Everything’s fine.”

It clearly wasn’t in the moment, however, a point Atkins acknowledged on Monday as he continues to forge ahead with his work to have the Jays build upon their monster 2025 season.

Atkins hopeful Berrios will be part of team’s plans

While Atkins said he is hopeful that Berrios will be a part of the team’s rotation in 2026, the team already has acquired a pair of starters in Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, whose acquisition hasn’t been made official pending a physical.

As for Berrios, the GM said that in the aftermath of the World Series near-miss, he has been in contact with the popular Puerto Rican in part to repair the rift or at least address the fallout from the difficult decision to leave him off the playoff roster.

“You always are (trying to repair),” Atkins said. “We’re never going to have a situation where we have 40 players or even 26 players who are feeling great about the opportunity they are given, even when you go to the last game of the World Series.

“(It was) his decision (not to be with the team.) I think he was just having a tough time, but you’d have to ask him. He handled (a move to the bullpen late in the season) well, but when it came to roster selection, he wasn’t on it.”

While it’s the player’s decision to remain with the team or not, others who were not left on the roster — such as pitcher Bowden Francis and DH Anthony Santander — remained with the Jays for the duration.

Rough season

Overall, 2025 was quite a tumble for Berrios, who began the season as opening day starter but struggled through much of it. Late in the campaign, he was played on the injured reserve list for the first time in his career because of an elbow injury.

Atkins said that the 31-year-old, who signed a seven-year, $131 million US extension with the Jays in 2021, has recovered from those ailments.

“(His health is) very good,” Atkins said. “He’s recovered well and feels strong. All positive.”

Meanwhile, Atkins acknowledged that the team’s clear target this off-season has been to bolster its rotation, something the team did early by signing Cease to a franchise free agent record contract of $210 million US over seven seasons.

“We were obviously focused on pitching and we feel very good about those acquisitions,” Atkins said in his suite overlooking the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, adding that Ponce is a candidate to be a regular in the rotation.

‘We’re satisfied’

“The area where we saw the opportunity to make our team better (pitching) seemed like the highest leverage area. We’re satisfied. We feel like we’ve improved our pitching significantly but don’t want to eliminate other ways to build upon it.”

So what does the Ponce add mean for the future of Berrios?

“Speaking of starting pitching generally, Jose has been an incredible starting pitcher for his entire career, and we’re very glad he’s here. Certainly intend for him to be here moving forward. And Erik Lauer has shown the versatility to help in either role.”

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