Blue Jays Shift Jose Berrios to Bullpen Amid Rotation Reorganization

The Toronto Blue Jays are shifting veteran starter José Berríos to the bullpen for the remainder of the 2025 season, a move confirmed by manager John Schneider following a heavy 20-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals. This change is largely due to the emergence of pitching prospect Trey Yesavage, who will take Berríos' spot in the rotation amid a crowded pitching staff. Despite Berríos' durability and experience, with over 270 career starts, he has struggled recently, posting a 4.06 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 164 innings this season, including poor performances in June and July. Berríos has only pitched out of the bullpen twice in his career, both early on with the Minnesota Twins, making this a significant adjustment for the 31-year-old. The Blue Jays still hold a comfortable lead in the AL East and are securing a playoff spot, aiming to strengthen their bullpen as they head into the postseason. Manager Schneider emphasized that while Berríos can still start if needed, his new role as a reliever aims to aid the team in winning as many games as possible during this critical stretch.