The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired starting pitcher Jose Berrios from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for the team’s No. 2 prospect Austin Martin (shortstop/second base) and No. 4 ranked prospect Simeon Woods-Richardson (pitcher).

Under contract for one more season, Berrios may be viewed as a short-term solution to the team’s starting rotation, however, a contract extension with the Blue Jays would make the diehard fans of the team much more appreciative of the work of GM Ross Atkins on deadline day 2021.

In dealing away two promising young guns in SWR and Martin, an apparent shift towards current success has been made known. With an infield already consisting of Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the team opted to move on from Martin, with prospect Jordan Groshans waiting patiently in the wings.

Also a success on the Jays’ front office is the fact that fellow starting pitcher Nate Pearson was left off the trade card. This means that Toronto could boast a starting pitching rotation of Hyun Jin Ryu, Jose Berrios, Robbie Ray, Alek Manoah, and Nate Pearson for 2022, should Ray choose to re-sign in Canada.

Berrios, 27, has had a stellar 2021 campaign thus far, despite an overall lack of team success. He owns a 3.48 ERA – which would be the lowest end-of-season total of his career, while boasting a 1.044 WHIP and a 7-5 record on the season. He has 126 strikeouts and just 95 hits allowed through 121 innings of work through 20 starts.

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Although only under control by the Blue Jays for a season and two/three months, Berrios will be eligible for free agency come the winter of 2022. Toronto, however, will look to give Berrios as many opportunities as possible to learn and come to enjoy the environment, hoping to sign the strong right-hander to a long-term extension, in hopes of winning him over.

The Jays have arguably the best hitter on the planet in Vladdy, a star in Bo Bichette, Teoscar and Semien playing at an All-Star level and George Springer! And Manoah is the future of the starting rotation. But you’re worried about trading 2 prospects for Jose Berrios?!

— Anthony Bruno (@AnthonyMBruno) July 30, 2021

Currently sitting at 51-48 and fourth in the American League East, the Jays are only 4.5 games out of the Wild Card, despite sitting 9.5 games behind the division-leading Boston Red Sox – a team to which the club beat 13-1 on Thursday. Toronto also just added reliever Brad Hand from the Washington Nationals in a trade made on Thursday.

Beating out the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, and Seattle Mariners for the services of Berrios shows the team is relentless in its pursuit of top players, but also may indicate that of an overpay. In dealing SWR and Martin to Minnesota, only time will tell if protecting Pearson and acquiring Berrios was the right direction for both the short and long-term future. Now may not be the right time to bring up the name Noah Syndergaard.

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