With bullpen a Blue Jays priority, what about Jeff Hoffman?

Breadcrumb Trail Links

‘Hoffman took it especially hard. There wasn’t another guy I wanted out there to get four outs to win the World Series.’

Get the latest from Rob Longley straight to your inbox Sign Up

Published Dec 11, 2025 • 4 minute read

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Jeff Hoffman of the Toronto Blue Jays walks off the mound in the middle of the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox. Getty ImagesArticle content

As top-of-the-market shoppers and a team determined to enhance the back end of their bullpen, there seemingly isn’t a day that goes by that the Blue Jays aren’t linked to the high-end relievers available via free agency.

Advertisement 2

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.

THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors

Article content

And with starting pitching shored up following the big bucks signing of Dylan Cease and the deal with Cody Ponce — which was finalized on Thursday morning — the noise around the Jays pursuit of a potential new closer will only amplify.

Article content

What does that mean for the incumbent in the flashpoint spot of the bullpen, Jeff Hoffman?

That remains to be seen, but manager John Schneider remains a staunch believer in the guy the team signed to a three-year, $33-million US contract on Jan. 10.

In the aftermath of Game 7 of the World Series, when Hoffman allowed a home run to Dodgers No. 9 hitter Miguel Rojas — made more agonizing with the Jays two tantalizing outs away from capturing the title — discussing the future of the Jays closer status seemed inevitable.

Your Midday Sun

Thanks for signing up!

Article content

Advertisement 3

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

There isn’t a Jays stakeholder that wouldn’t have been crushed by that unlikely blast, especially Hoffman, who was devastated in the Toronto clubhouse in the aftermath, saying “I cost everybody in here a World Series ring.”

Was Hoffman too hard on himself?

Schneider, for one, believes that the first-year closer was being unfair to himself and his body of work in his first year in Toronto.

“Hoffman took it especially hard after,” Schneider said at the Winter Meetings this week in Orlando. “He was open to me and to the guys. I told him to take a look at your post-season numbers. Look at your first year with us numbers — which probably get inflated with some home runs that weren’t home runs in every park.”

Indeed, though there were some rough patches during the regular season, Hoffman was at his best in the playoffs — appearing in 10 games, allowing just six hits in 12.1 innings of work and just one rather memorable home run.

Advertisement 4

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

“Hoff was elite for me,” Schneider said. “There wasn’t another guy that I wanted out there in that situation to get four outs to win the World Series.”

Unfortunately, what happened after the first two outs of that assignment will live on in the memories of all players involved, for both teams.

Reliving the gory details of the ninth

Schneider was so confident in the moment that he said once Hoffman entered the game, he was fast-forwarding to later in the ninth. Top of mind was deciding what to do with the always-dangerous Dodgers leadoff hitter, Shohei Ohtani, who was slated to be the third batter faced by the Jays closer.

Hoffman came in with two out in the eighth, replacing Trey Yesavage, who had allowed the Dodgers to get within a run after surrendering a solo homer to Max Muncy. The right-hander quickly got Tommy Edman to ground out to end the inning and it was on to the ninth.

Advertisement 5

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

After the Jays were unable to add on, they took a 4-3 lead to the bottom of the ninth and with the Rogers Centre ready to burst, Hoffman struck out Kiké Hernandez swinging to add to the anticipation.

We all know what happened next.

“My thought process in the (bottom of the) eighth is am I going to walk Shohei in the ninth. I figure the first two (Dodgers batters) Kiké (and Miguel) Rojas were kind of outs. Nothing against them, but just how Hoff was throwing.

“Then that quickly changed. My thought process quickly changed after the 3-2 slider.”

That it did. Rojas savaged that slider, the sixth pitch of the at-bat, and sent it 387 feet over the wall in left field to tie the ball game and set the stage for the dramatic, fateful conclusion to an amazing Fall Classic.

Advertisement 6

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Few remember the next two batters — the shock of the moment and all — but Hoffman needed just one pitch to get Ohtani to fly out to left field before striking out Smith to end the Dodgers half of the ninth.

Can the big blasts be forgotten?

Schneider is well aware that the home runs allowed by Hoffman in the ninth, Yesavage the inning before and the Will Smith game-winner off Shane Bieber in the 11th have the possibility of leaving scar tissue.

That said, the manager also believes each player will grow from the experience.

“I don’t think Hoff will have any problems moving on,” Schneider said. “I don’t think Trey will have any problems moving on. I think they’re going to be welcomed back to the city, to the country and be outstanding.

Advertisement 7

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Blue Jays take a shot on sinker specialist Spencer Miles in MLB Rule 5 draft

Blue Jays’ path to an AL East repeat narrows as Orioles sign Pete Alonso

“Baseball happens. I think they’re going to be just fine going forward. They’re going to be better for it.”

There’s no reason to question the Jays belief in Hoffman being a big important part of the high-leverage end of the Toronto bullpen. Whether he remains as closer, however, could depend on the work of general manager Ross Atkins over the next couple of months.

What are the options?

The Jays certainly have been linked to all of the top relievers on the market, including Edwin Diaz, who went to the Dodgers on a three-year, $69-million US deal.

That price likely was deemed a little too high for a reliever for the Jays, who aren’t afraid to spend, but still believe in chasing value.

So now the potential pursuit moves to other potential late-inning arms available such as Robert Suarez — who the Jays were heavily linked to in Orlando — Luke Weaver and Pete Fairbanks.

Article content

Share this article in your social network

With bullpen a Blue Jays priority, what about Jeff Hoffman?

Tags: