DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The last time we saw José Berríos on a mound, we were all left wondering why he didn¡¯t stay on it.

The decision to lift a dominant Berr¨ªos from Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series last October dominated headlines for weeks. If you¡¯re reading this, you¡¯ve already lost enough sleep over that day in Minneapolis where everything went wrong, but Berr¨ªos¡¯ first spring start Thursday is as good a time as any to close that book.

Berr¨ªos, more than anyone, is ready. He¡¯s been stuck in the middle of this, answered questions about it and relived it too many times. The fresh start is welcome.

¡°We had a conversation. We talked, me and the team, about that situation,¡± Berr¨ªos said. ¡°We got clear. We¡¯re on the same page. We are ready to turn the page about that last game. That knowledge, that confidence and the ability to talk with them -- and they heard me -- made me feel more comfortable. I have more experience now. I¡¯m excited.¡±

"La Makina" looks like, well, a machine. He¡¯s put so much work into his impressive body, which has kept him on the mound as consistently as anyone in this sport over the past decade. He¡¯s rebounded from the baffling blip of 2022 as well with a fantastic 2023 season. With five years still left on his extension, the Blue Jays are looking at a long-term cornerstone of their rotation once more.

Berr¨ªos is thoughtful and self-reflective, often weaving analogies about life and pitching together in post-game interviews. It¡¯s part of what has kept him so steady over the years, but don¡¯t mistake it for complacency. There¡¯s a growl to Berr¨ªos when he¡¯s at his best, and with his 30th birthday still a few months away, there¡¯s plenty left.

¡°Every year, we get more experience,¡± Berr¨ªos said. ¡°Thank god I am feeling good, feeling healthy. Every year, we add something new to ourselves to get better. That¡¯s how I feel right now. I know myself more. Knowing what I need to be a hundred percent out there has been a huge key for me. I don¡¯t know if we¡¯re getting old or getting experienced, but that¡¯s how I see it.¡±

The glimpse of Berr¨ªos we saw Thursday at TD Ballpark looked just fine, throwing two innings of scoreless, two-hit ball in the Blue Jays' 5-0 loss to the Phillies. It was an easy, worry-free start, which is all Berr¨ªos needs to do for the next month. There¡¯s always going to be a new wrinkle for a pitcher of Berr¨ªos¡¯ caliber, though, and this year, it¡¯s a cutter to help him against lefties. He threw two on Thursday, one of them getting him a ground-ball out.

¡°I know it¡¯s going to be a good tool for me, adding to my stuff,¡± Berr¨ªos said. ¡°Adding to the four-seam and two-seam, a cutter on the glove side against lefties is going to be a good weapon. If I keep practicing and can throw it whenever I want in an at-bat, it¡¯s going to be a big, big pitch for me.¡±

If Berr¨ªos can repeat his 2023 season, the Blue Jays would be thrilled. He gave them 189 2/3 innings over 32 starts with a 3.65 ERA, carrying a heavy workload alongside a few other workhorses. He embodies the identity of this rotation so well, and if he¡¯s going to be around for five more seasons, he¡¯ll continue to be one of the faces of it.

¡°We are competitors, all five,¡± Berr¨ªos said. ¡°Including (Alek) Manoah. I know he¡¯s going to be good. He¡¯s going to be ready and join us. He¡¯s going to break camp with the team. Having all five ready to compete and do the best for the team makes me feel more comfortable and happy, knowing we¡¯re going to be good all five days.¡±

Berr¨ªos is a lock to keep one of those five days sturdy. Outside of one oddball season, it¡¯s all he¡¯s done, week after week for his entire career. Part of turning the page is learning what¡¯s on the next one, though, and Berr¨ªos is as eager as anyone to see it.