Toronto Blue Jays veteran starting pitcher Jose Berrios says he dealt with elbow and biceps issues throughout the 2025 season in his first public comments since his team suffered a devastating Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series last month.
“I battled all year long with my elbow, my bicep,” Berrios told MLB Network on Tuesday. “But the way my team competed out there, I was trying to go out there and compete every five days with them.”
Berrios had an up-and-down season in 2025 and by the time late September rolled around, the 31-year-old could no longer handle the problems he was having with his throwing arm.
Following a rough relief appearance against the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 24, Berrios was placed on the injured list with elbow inflammation, ending his season.
“So I just put my hands up and tried to see what I got there,” explained Berrios. “ It was bicep tendon inflammation, so nothing major. We attacked that real quick, and that’s why I didn’t pitch in the playoffs.”
Across 31 appearances (including 30 starts) in 2025, Berrios posted a 9-5 record with a 4.17 ERA alongside 138 strikeouts and 56 walks over 166 innings pitched
Berrios was with the team during their wins in the American League Division Series and American League Championship Series, but caused a minor stir when he was absent for the World Series against the Dodgers.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins recently told the media that Berrios made the decision not be with the team for the World Series.
“He was not happy,” Atkins said, per MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “He was disappointed that he wasn’t in our rotation. He handled it well, but then when it came down to roster selection, he wasn’t on it.”
Berrios also told MLB Network that he is interested in pitching for his native Puerto Rico in March’s World Baseball Classic ahead of the 2026 season.
“I have that in my mind. That’s my goal right now,” he said.
Berrios has pitched for Puerto Rico at two previous World Baseball Classics, helping them win the silver medal in 2013 and 2017.
Berrios is under team control at a salary of $19 million for 2026 season before having an opt-out clause next winter. Should he elect not to opt out, Berrios is signed for another two years at an annual salary of $24 million.
His future with the Blue Jays is murky after Toronto spent big to add free-agent Dylan Cease last month and also added starter Cody Ponce on a three-year deal. Those two join Berrios and returning starters Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage and Eric Lauer as potential pieces of the rotation.
Berrios has a career record of 108-82 with a 4.08 ERA over 10 seasons with the Minnesota Twins and Blue Jays. He went 16-11 with a 3.60 ERA in 2024 and 11-12 with a 3.65 ERA in 2023.
