MLB Rumors: José Berríos, Blue Jays Agree To Huge Contract Extension

José Berríos has secured the bag.

The Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher has agreed to a seven-year, $131 contract extension with the team, Héctor José Torres Donato and SportsNet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported Tuesday, citing sources.

Berríos had been set to enter free agency in 2022 under his old contract, but his new deal will tie him to Toronto through 2028. A source confirmed the deal to MLB Network’s Jon Paul Morosi, and Nicholson-Smith offered more insight into its details.

José Berríos has a 7-year deal with the Blue Jays worth around $130 million, source confirms. @ShiDavidi and @bnicholsonsmith have the value at $131MM. @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 16, 2021

A 7-year, $131 million deal essentially breaks down as $11 million for Berrios's final arb year followed by $20 million per free agent season for six years

Deal runs through age-34 season

Credit to @JonHeyman who was first on agreement & @jonmorosi who had the seven-year term https://t.co/sWHLcpsUau

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) November 16, 2021

The Minnesota Twins traded Berríos to the Blue Jays at this year’s Major League Baseball trade deadline. He went 12-9 with a 3.52 ERA and 204 strikeouts across 32 starts in 2021.

His quality performances convinced Toronto to offer him the largest contract extension in franchise history, surpassing the seven-year, $126 million deal Vernon Wells signed in 2008.