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The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired Minnesota Twins SP Jose Berrios, Ken Rosenthal reported Friday afternoon. The rest of the teams in the AL East appeared to be the competition for Berrios. The Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees were all vying for the services of the Twins ace. Minnesota reportedly likes the Blue Jays farm system the best. Rosenthal confirms Berrios is headed to Toronto.
Berríos to Blue Jays, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2021
Berrios has had an above-average season despite not making the All-Star team in the AL. He’s got a 3.48 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 126 strikeouts over 121.2 IP in 2021. The Blue Jays needed to add another quality starter to their rotation with youngster Alek Manoah on the injured list and the back-end of the rotation struggling (Ross Stripling, Steven Matz). The Twins are expected to get multiple prospects in return for Berrios, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a deal to acquire right-hander Jose Berrios from the Minnesota Twins, sources tell ESPN. Twins will be getting back multiple prospects. Big get for the Blue Jays, who needed pitching badly and get the best arm. @Ken_Rosenthal was on it.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2021
One of those pieces going back to the Twins is highly-coveted prospect Austin Martin, who is ranked 16th on MLB.com’s top 100 prospects this year. Martin can play the infield and outfield, and could be ready to contribute at the next level as soon as next season. The other prospect is RHP Simeon Woods Richardson, who ranked 4th in the Blue Jays system. So the Jays gave up their 2nd and 4th-ranked prospects or Berrios, who is arbitration eligible next season and can become an UFA in 2023.
Austin Martin heading to Twins in Jose Berrios deal, per sources.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) July 30, 2021