Blue Jays: Three pitchers that would make a difference in the rotation

Jose Berrios

Another right-hander who could be moved before the trade deadline, Jose Berrios has been pitching well this season for the Minnesota Twins, who are not having the campaign they envisioned when they started the year.

Currently 14.5 games back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central and miles away from the Wild Card, it would make sense if the Twins become sellers at the deadline although they could hold pat for a year and hope for a better start to the 2022 season. If they choose to trade some assets, teams will most likely come calling for Berrios.

This season, the Puerto Rican product is pitching to a 3.48 ERA through 18 starts, striking out 114 batters and allowing 31 walks through 108.2 innings of work. Berrios is currently in his second year of arbitration and won’t become eligible for free agency until after the 2022 season.

Given that the righty will not be a one-year rental, the price tag on the Twins pitcher will be a bit higher than other potential arms on the trade block this summer. The Blue Jays would most likely have to give up a top 10 prospect mixed in with some prospects off of the top 30 rankings to get a deal done, a bit of a steep price but one that could provide immediate results for the Jays if they are trying to make the postseason this year.

The Blue Jays have already been linked to Berrios earlier this season, so it doesn’t seem unreasonable to think a potential trade is in the works for his services.

The bidding from other playoff-bound teams could drive the price up but if the ask is not out of this world, adding Jose Berrios to the Blue Jays rotation moves the needle and could be a difference-maker over the next two months in terms of contending in October this year and next.