The Toronto Blue Jays entered the offseason grappling with uncertainty over the composition of their starting rotation. The club brought in Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to join established pitchers Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and Trey Yesavage. Despite this, José Berríos remained on the roster after expressing dissatisfaction when moved to the bullpen late last season and ultimately left off the playoff squad.
Berríos was linked to possible trades, but Toronto elected to keep him, and with Spring Training underway, it has become clear that Bieber will miss the beginning of the 2024 season due to a forearm injury. This development opens the door for Berríos to return to the starting rotation.
Blue Jays plan for Shane Bieber to open the season on the injured list,
Blue Jays reporter Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote on X.
He’s dealing with right forearm fatigue and his ramp-up will be delayed past opening day. He’s feeling good per John Schneider and playing catch, but won’t start the season on time. Described as week to week.
Berríos Set to Reclaim Starting Role Amid Bieber’s Absence
With Bieber unable to begin the season, Berríos is expected to fill one of the rotation spots. The Blue Jays’ management hopes that after a problematic finish to last season, Berríos will rebound strongly in 2024.
In the previous campaign, Berríos recorded a 9-5 win-loss record with a 4.17 ERA across 31 appearances, 30 of which were starts. His struggles at the end of last year have fueled expectations for improvement as he prepares for a full-time role again.
Manager Addresses Berríos’ Difficulties Last Season
After being left off the playoff roster, Berríos visibly distanced himself from the team, raising questions as he was absent from the clubhouse and the dugout during critical moments. As the team began its camp, manager John Schneider acknowledged the tensions and expressed that both sides wished the situation had been handled differently.
I think it was probably heat-of-the-moment stuff,
Schneider said on Tuesday.
He was obviously not pitching for us. He was on the IL. So, we didn’t really deal with it at the time because we were trying to win the World Series. But I think that’s been handled.
I think Jose realizes that it probably could have been handled a little bit differently. And, I’m sure he does, as well. But he’s the normal Jose that’s coming in ready. He’s had conversations with guys that he needed to have conversations with. And we want to just put that behind us.
Berríos now enters spring camp striving to regain trust and prove he can contribute effectively as a starter. He is scheduled to earn $19 million this year and holds a player opt-out clause after the 2026 season.
Blue Jays Possess Rich Starting Pitcher Depth Despite Bieber’s Injury
Although Bieber’s injury is a setback, Toronto boasts significant depth in its starting pitching staff. Manager Schneider confirmed plans to stretch out both José Berríos and Eric Lauer to solidify the rotation options.
How we have planned…you have Cease, you have Gaus, you have Ponce, you got Trey (Yesavage),
Schneider explained.
Lauer, we’re going to stretch out as a starter. Jose, we’re going to stretch out as a starter. He’s had a pretty productive offseason. Watched him throw today and was very encouraged.
Hopefully, Shane isn’t that far behind. We’re kind of in a unique spot where some of our depth is actually on our 26-man roster.
Additionally, two young prospects, Ricky Tiedemann and Jake Bloss, are recovering from injuries and may contribute starts as the season progresses, further bolstering Toronto’s pitching options.
Rotation Outlook and Team Prospects
The early season absence of Shane Bieber is a significant challenge for the Blue Jays, but the organization’s abundance of starting pitchers offers reassurance. The decision to keep José Berríos in the rotation reinforces the team’s confidence in his potential resurgence after last year’s struggles. With solid performances from newly acquired starters and prospects gradually returning to form, Toronto aims to maintain a competitive rotation ahead of the regular season.
How Berríos manages his return and whether Bieber can recover swiftly will shape the Blue Jays’ starting pitching landscape and influence their push in the upcoming season.
Blue Jays plan for Shane Bieber to open the season on the injured list.
He’s dealing with right forearm fatigue and his ramp-up will be delayed past opening day. He's feeling good per John Schneider and playing catch, but won't start the season on time. Described as week to week
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) February 10, 2026
After he was removed from the Blue Jays rotation and finished the season on the IL, Jose Berrios chose not to be with the club during the World Series.
Today, manager John Schneider said the situation has been handled internally: pic.twitter.com/EghraJlvcE
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) February 10, 2026
