ORLANDO, Fla. — Throughout his career with the Blue Jays, starting pitcher Jose Berrios has been one of the more positive and popular players in the Toronto clubhouse.

All that made his absence from the team during the riveting World Series more glaring and perplexing.

General manager Ross Atkins acknowledged on Monday that Berrios took the demotion hard, which led to his decision not to be with the team.

‘HE WAS NOT HAPPY’

“He was not happy,” Atkins said of Berrios in his suite here at the Winter Meetings. “He was disappointed that he wasn’t in our rotation.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

“It’s always tough when someone of his pedigree is not in the rotation. Sure, he was not excited with that decision. And having to be the one that makes it, it makes it

See Full Page