Blue Jays' smart and thorough Jeff Hoffman strategy is fueled by empathy

There's no doubt that Jeff Hoffman has been the subject of scrutiny among Toronto Blue Jays fans. He's usually participating in the most consequential moments of a baseball game, and the results haven't been amazing.

The Blue Jays need to address this problem before the season takes on added importance. As of now, Toronto is taking a glass-half full approach when it comes to Hoffman's role in the bullpen. Manager John Schneider has stayed consistent even though he's been blitzed with questions about Hoffman.

“I'm always going to, no matter what the outcome, try to put him in spots to have success,” Schneider said. “He's a big boy. He understands that. Spotlight's on him a little bit and rightfully so. How can we be there to support you? How can we help you get ahead of hitters? Is it mechanical? Is it between the ears a little bit? What’s going on and how can we help?”

Remember, Toronto was willing to overlook the red flags that were raised on his physical prior to inking him to a three-year, $33 million deal last winter. Days after he yielded a game-tying home run to Miguel Rojas in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, general manager Ross Atkins struck a conciliatory tone when he stated that they would work with Hoffman about potentially remaining the closer.

At this point, the Blue Jays can't afford to lose too many more ballgames. Last season demonstrated the importance of winning every possible game to avoid nasty tiebreakers. Hoffman needs to figure things out, but the Blue Jays are confident in their ability to fix things.

Blue Jays hoping that by backing up Hoffman he'll correct the early season struggles

Contrast that with how the Blue Jays are handling another pitcher on the staff. It's no secret that Eric Lauer has been frustrated with his usage this season, especially pitching behind a so-called "opener". Lauer is also chapped about losing his arbitration case this winter. Lauer making those thoughts known could be causing tension with his bosses.

Lauer having that opinion is perfectly acceptable. As a pending free agent, it's great that he has a chip on his shoulder to perform in a contract year. Since the Blue Jays are managing a number of pitching injuries, they need to do whatever it takes to muddle through this multitude of injuries.

The Blue Jays are taking a more empathetic approach when it comes the enigmatic Hoffman, who pitched so well in Philadelphia prior to signing with Toronto. They want to help before things get completely out of whack. José Berrios is another pitcher who reportedly had problems with his usage during last season's playoffs.

Even though Blue Jays have rocky relationships with Berrios and Lauer, there doesn't appear to be any damage to the franchise. The organization is still viewed favorably even if some players disagree with their playing time. That's perfectly normal on any functioning roster, including one that has expectations to participate in October baseball.

Winning games will cover up any internal misgivings, but the Blue Jays are approaching this situation with a unique tact. The Blue Jays have a strong clubhouse with players who made the World Series last autumn. Time will tell if the Blue Jays can patch up the issues that have contributed to a rocky start to the 2026 season.

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