Every Toronto Blue Jays fan remembers how the 2025 World Series ended, falling in extra innings to the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7. As the team looks to reverse its fortunes in 2026, a man who was at the forefront of major criticism for the loss can be key in helping the Blue Jays return to baseball’s brightest stage.
Toronto was two outs away from becoming champions for the first time since 1993, until Miguel Rojas knocked a hanging slider from closer Jeff Hoffman into the Blue Jays’ bullpen to tie the game. Will Smith homered two innings later, to give the Dodgers a 5-4 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish en route to becoming back-to-back champions.
Blue Jays Should Still Believe in Jeff Hoffman
Hoffman received major criticism for blowing the lead by giving up a home run, a problem he struggled with for the majority of the 2025 season. He allowed 15 home runs in the 2025 regular season, the most of any full-time closer and right at the top amongst all relievers in baseball. There is no denying that it was an issue, but lost in the frustration was how elite Hoffman was for large parts of the regular season and postseason.
Jeff Hoffman’s FIP was a 4.90 this season because of the 1.99 HR/9 he allowed.
That came back to bite him at the worst possible time. pic.twitter.com/rGKZgzpN2M
— Robbie Hyde (@gingersnaphyde) November 2, 2025
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Hoffman returned to the organization that drafted him on Jan. 10, signing a three-year, $33 million contract to become the team’s closer, after two strong seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. The 32-year-old wrapped up his first season with the Blue Jays with a 9-7 record, 4.37 ERA, 1.191 WHIP, 33 saves (good for fourth in Major League Baseball), and struck out 84 batters over 68 innings. Appearing in 71 games, Hoffman consistently took the ball for the Blue Jays, tied for the 24th most outings in the league.
The numbers won’t blow you away, with home runs allowed and ERA standing out, but breaking down the numbers month-by-month reveals a much bigger story of just how good Hoffman was. Here are the ERAs for each month of the MLB season: March 0.00, April 1.35, May 13.50, June 1.80, July 4.50, August 6.00, September 0.84, October 0.82, and then 6.75 over the one November outing.
Ross Atkins Spoke on Potential Role Change
Some of those months Hoffman was elite, others, there were major struggles. Speaking at the end-of-season press conference in early November, general manager Ross Atkins spoke on where Hoffman stands going into 2026.
“The great thing about Jeff is he is not married to that role,” Atkins said of Hoffman being the team’s closer in 2026. “I think he would be open to anything that makes us better.”
As the off-season continues to roll on, the Blue Jays added set-up man Tyler Rogers and Chase Lee to help build what looks to be a bullpen of Hoffman, Rogers, Lee, Yimi García, Braydon Fisher, Louis Varland and probably two of Eric Lauer, Mason Fluharty, and Brendon Little. That doesn’t account for the potential of Cody Ponce or Bowden Francis providing length out of the bullpen.
Closer Market Expensive This Winter
As the calendar gets closer to 2026 the relief market has moved fast, Edwin Díaz signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers, Robert Suarez joined the Atlanta Braves on a three-year, $45 million pact, Raisel Iglesias re-upped in Atlanta on a one-year, $16 million deal, Ryan Helsley took his talents to the Baltimore Orioles on a two-year, $28 million contract, and Devin Williams got three years and $45 million from the New York Mets.
Kenley Jansen went to the Detroit Tigers on a one-year, $12 million deal, and Emilio Pagán returned to the Cincinnati Reds on a two-year, $20 million deal. All of these closers from last year (besides Pagán) who signed deals this offseason are slated to make a higher AAV than Hoffman.
The quality the Blue Jays are getting out of Hoffman makes him fit to remain in the coveted role, as Hoffman’s numbers over the past four years rival many of these players on this list. Hoffman trails only Díaz and Williams in K/9 innings, coming in at 11.12.
In terms of total strikeouts, Hoffman only trailed Díaz among relievers who were signed this offseason, showing that the ability to miss bats is there for the former first-round pick in 2014. Overall, Hoffman struck out the 15th most relievers in all of the MLB, showcasing the elite swing and miss ability that the Blue Jays management has so highly coveted.
The Last Word
The Blue Jays’ signing of Rogers shows the belief that there is trust in Hoffman to close out games for the team in 2026, and as Hoffman showed for many stretches of the 2025 season, he can compare to the best of the best when he is on his game.
If Hoffman can find a medium between the elite months and blow-up months, the Blue Jays will be in good hands at a great price in the ninth inning next season.
Main Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
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