Ranking the Blue Jays’ biggest contracts handed out by GM Ross Atkins

#5 José Berríos – seven years, $131 million

The Blue Jays made a big splash at the 2021 trade deadline by acquiring Minnesota Twins’ ace José Berríos. Berríos made a strong first impression with the ballclub down the stretch that season, going 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, with 78 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched over 12 starts. Atkins then inked Berrios to a massive seven-year contract extension upon the conclusion of the 2021 season.

Since the signing, Berríos has fluctuated between excellence and disappointment in four seasons with the Blue Jays. More notably, he posted some of his worst numbers of his MLB career in 2022 with a 5.23 ERA, 1.42 WHIP while surrendering a league-high 199 hits and 100 earned runs on the year.

Berríos would bounce back in both 2023 and 2024 to become one of the Blue Jays most consistent starters in the rotation, before struggling once again this past year. In fact, he was even relegated to the bullpen prior to the end of 2025. Going forward, Toronto will need more of 2023 and 2024 Berríos for this contract to ultimately provide some good return value.

#3 Kevin Gausman – five years, $110 million

When the Blue Jays landed Kevin Gausman during the 2021-2022 offseason, he was expected to help fill the team ace role that the departed Cy Young winner Robbie Ray had left at the time. Gausman was certainly up to the challenge as he has been exactly everything the Blue Jays needed him to be.

For the past four seasons with the Blue Jays, the veteran right-hander has made at least 31 starts, along with posting double digits in wins, an ERA below 3.85, a WHIP below 1.25 and at least 162 strikeouts each year. More importantly, Toronto and their fans had the absolute confidence that Gausman could deliver a quality start each time the ball was handed to him, making him often their trusted big-game pitchers.

The Blue Jays have received massive value with his contract already even with his final year coming up.