The Toronto Blue Jays have a decision to make—and it’s one they can’t afford to drag out any longer. This closer situation isn’t stabilizing. It’s slipping.
The Toronto Blue Jays have a decision to make—and it’s one they can’t afford to drag out any longer.
This closer situation isn’t stabilizing. It’s slipping.
Jeff Hoffman has had his moments, but let’s be clear: “moments” aren’t enough in the ninth inning of meaningful baseball games. The role of a closer isn’t about flashes—it’s about certainty. It’s about walking into the ninth with a lead and feeling like the game is effectively over. Right now, that confidence just isn’t there.
And that’s the problem.
When you’re trying to compete in the American League East, where every game matters and every blown save can swing a playoff race, you can’t treat the ninth inning like a tryout. The Blue Jays need definition. They need reliability. They need a stopper.
So what are the options?
Internally, Louis Varland is intriguing. There’s power there. There’s presence. And sometimes, that’s exactly what the back end of a bullpen needs—someone who attacks hitters, not someone trying to survive them. If the organization believes he can handle the role, then commit to it. Give him the ball and let him grow into the job.
But if there’s hesitation—and there should be, given the stakes—then it’s time to look outside.
Contending teams don’t wait for problems to fix themselves. They solve them. Whether it’s via trade or another acquisition, the front office has to recognize that the ninth inning is too important to gamble on. You don’t patch that role—you secure it.
Because right now, every late lead feels a little uneasy. And in a division this tight, “a little uneasy” turns into losses that come back to haunt you in September.
The Blue Jays don’t need to panic—but they do need to act.
Move on from the uncertainty. Define the role. And make sure that when the ninth inning rolls around, the game is in the hands of someone built to finish it.