Blue Jays end offseason with same burning Jeff Hoffman question they started it with

It looks like Jeff Hoffman will be the closer for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2026. For some folks that sentence will invoke various reactions, ranging from "well yeah, who else would it be?" to "can't they try someone else?" And both reactions are valid!

In 2025, Hoffman had one of the most Jekyl and Hyde season's in recent memory for the Blue Jays and because of that, the Blue Jays spent the offseason in search of pitching upgrades. But as the offseason is officially coming to an end with Spring Training wrapping up in the next few days, the Blue Jays search for an upgrade specifically for closers yielded no significant changes to the very back of the bullpen.

Blue Jays looked for closers but settled for their in-house option of Hoffman for 2026

A quick recap of Hoffman's season goes like this; he was very good at the beginning of the year. Through his first 14 games of the season, he pitched 16.1 innings, allowed just two earned runs, while striking out 23 hitters and walking only three (one intentionally). He racked up seven saves, and went 3-0 while the team was 11-3 in games he pitched in. But over his next 11 games he allowed 15 earned runs, in nine innings, giving up five home runs in the process.

The rest of the season seemed to follow that pattern. He'd have stretches where he was untouchable, and other times he couldn't keep the ball in the ball park, allowing a league high (for a reliever) 15 home runs, just one of the MLB high - Washington's Jackson Rutledge allowed 16.

In the playoffs he was virtually lights out, and the only home run he allowed in the entire postseason was the one in Game 7 of the World Series that Miguel Rojas of the Dodgers hit to tie the game with one out in the ninth inning. Probably not the best time for that Achilles heel to rear it's ugly self.

So going into the offseason, there was a big question mark on whether the Blue Jays needed to upgrade that portion of the team. While they signed Hoffman ahead of the 2025 season to a three-year $33 million deal to be the closer, that didn't mean they were "married to the idea" of Hoffman being the last guy out in 2026. In fact, general manager Ross Atkins spoke those words just after the season ended and he began his search to beef up Toronto's pitching.

And as 2025 turned into 2026, the Blue Jays have honed in on that idea, adding to their pitching corps on an almost weekly basis. From big names like Dylan Cease, to smaller moves such as adding Connor Seabold, the Blue Jays dove in head first, searching for ways to improve that part of the roster. And yet, despite them being linked to many a formidable free agent closer, the Blue Jays didn't ink any of those types of arms. They had interest in Edwin Diaz, Robert Suarez, Raisel Iglesias, Pete Fairbanks and Ryan Helsely. But every single one of those guys signed deals elsewhere.

Luke Weaver, Phil Maton and Brad Keller also popped up in Blue Jays rumors, and none of them were brought on board. Tyler Rogers was the only major move made that could be looked at as a true back end of the bullpen addition. But he may not be better suited to be the full-time closer.

In fact, Rogers is almost certainly better used in specific high-leverage situations at any point in the game, just like when he was deployed by Team USA to get Juan Soto to ground out into an inning ending double play in their victory of Team D.R. in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic, becoming an unsung hero in the process for the American squad.

As the 2026 season draws ever closer, the Blue Jays will go into the year with Hoffman as the closer, but there will be question marks around his viability in that role. But until they find someone who can do it better, either internally or through a late move, Hoffman will be the guy.