The Braves are looking to add another starter, and Berrios may be a candidate.
It's no secret that the Atlanta Braves could look to add another starting pitcher this offseason. A number of free agency candidates remain, while Atlanta has been discussed as a potential suitor for a number of starters through trades. Mark Bowman of MLB.com recently revealed a "Wild Card" trade candidate for the ball club, though, as he mentioned Jose Berrios of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Berrios being discussed as a Blue Jay who could be moved isn't new. Toronto features a deep pitching staff and there may not be room for Berrios in the starting rotation. The Blue Jays likely don't want to pay him $19 million to pitch in long relief out of the bullpen in 2026.
Berrios' contract could run through 2028, but he has a player option for 2027. He is set to make $24 million in both 2027 and 2028, so opting into the deal may be enticing now that he's in his early 30s. If the Blue Jays did have him come out of the bullpen, however, one has to wonder if Berrios would consider opting out in order to pursue starting opportunities elsewhere.
All of that can be avoided with a trade, though. So, that brings us back to the Braves. Atlanta has not consistently been listed as a landing destination for Berrios, but the fit could make sense.
Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach are likely going to lead the starting rotation. Reynaldo Lopez and Hurston Waldrep are among the other starting candidates. It seems as though the ball club is interested in bringing in at least one more reliable starting pitcher.
Will they be willing to take on Berrios' contract? That depends on whether or not they believe he can still pitch at a high level. Although Berrios has not made an All-Star team since the 2018 and 2019 seasons, he has made at least 31 starts in each of the past four years. In 2025, he turned in a 4.17 ERA, but Berrios pitched to a respectable 3.60 ERA in 2024.
Is paying $19 million for a guy who can make 31-32 starts while potentially giving you a mid-3 ERA worth it? The answer could be yes for Atlanta, and there is a good chance that Toronto would be willing to help pay his salary if a trade were to come to fruition.
Bowman's "Wild Card" trade idea is one that should not be ignored. Jose Berrios projects to be a good fit for a Braves ball club that needs another starter.