Blue Jays: Jose Berrios – 2022 Cy Young Candidate

Flash-back to the trade deadline last year. The Blue Jays were in need of a capable and experienced starting pitcher. The lowly Minnesota Twins made it known that their guy, Jose Berrios, is available. The Jays took advantage of this and put together a package to secure the talented right-hander. This consisted of a pair of top prospects, right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods-Richardson and 2020’s fifth overall pick Austin Martin. This seemed to be a steep price for a pitcher with a career 4.04 ERA and only a year left of team control until his free agency.

Berrios made quite the impact in Toronto after the trade. He provided experience and stability to a rotation that badly needed it. Despite this, the Blue Jays missed the postseason by one win, as we all know. Berrios’ acquisition was brought further into the light of scrutiny. The price was high for a rental pitcher for a season where the team didn’t make the playoffs. Another year could go by and he could depart in free agency. This however won’t be the case, as he was extended by the Blue Jays on November 18th of this year.

This seven-year, $131 million extension has the potential to be a steal. Berrios is an immensely talented pitcher who I don’t believe has reached his ceiling. If I was making the decision on 2022’s opening day starter, Berrios is my guy. He’s always been dependable, with a few dashes of brilliance sprinkled in. I think 2022 is the year this brilliance takes centre stage, and he rides it to Cy Young contention. As a responsible and respectful writer, I plan on backing up my theory with facts.