Blue Jays beat reporter offers an interesting alternative to Jeff Hoffman in the closer's role

The back end of the Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen has been struggling this season, more specifically their closer Jeff Hoffman. With the latest Keegan Matheson report getting everyone talking about a change at the back end. Hoffman’s name has come up a ton, especially after a few rough outings and a 7.59 ERA; it might be time for a reset.

Matheson suggested that if the Blue Jays choose to either give him a break or move on from Hoffman, the team should look at a shared role between Louis Varland and Braydon Fisher. It’s a move that makes a lot of sense given how the season has gone so far.

The case for Varland and Fisher as the Blue Jays’ closer

Varland has shown he can be a very reliable arm for this staff. He is the guy you want coming in when there is a scare in the late innings of a game to get things back under control. If he isn’t needed before the ninth, then the inning should be his. If he has already been used, then the ball should go to Fisher.

Fisher has been solid as well, being used in whatever role they need him to, including opening a game earlier this season. And while he doesn’t have a long track record, he has the stuff to handle high leverage. Splitting the duties allows Blue Jays manager John Schneider to use his best arms based on the situation rather than just sticking to the idea of a designated closer. It gives the team flexibility, which is exactly what they need while the bullpen tries to find its footing.

The Blue Jays are currently 10-14 and sitting near the bottom of the division. One of their biggest struggles this season has been giving away games late, allowing runs to score in the eighth and ninth inning when they should be shutting down the other team. Whether it is a closer-by-committee approach or just a temporary reset, something has to change. The focus has solely been on the bullpen, and the coaching staff’s willingness to try a different look at the end of games. 

While they also haven't been helped a ton by the offence, ranking low in the runs scored category, there are certainly times when they could have an extra win or two if Hoffman would have been able to close the door. While an extra win or two doesn't feel huge in April, remember the Blue Jays won the AL East with the exact same record as the New York Yankees last year and the margin for error seems razor thin in the AL East again in 2026.

Ideally, Schneider will see what is best for the team rather than staying loyal to Hoffman. And, if he does, it opens the door for the closer role to actually do their job, closing out games rather than blowing them

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