Jeff Hoffman - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Okamoto goes deep twice, Sosa and Pinango each have three hits; Blue Jays beat Twins 7-3

Kazuma Okamoto homered twice, Yohendrick Pinango had three hits in just his fifth career game, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-3

MAY 2 • Associated Press

Adapting well to set-up duties Hoffman struck out two in a perfect seventh inning Tuesday to record his third hold of the season in a win over the Red Sox.

Impact The right-hander has collected holds in three straight appearances with a 4:1 K:BB in 2.1 innings over that span, although the first of those outings was the one that encouraged the Blue Jays to finally remove him from the closer role in favor of Louis Varland. A prolonged stretch of success for Hoffman could allow him to regain ninth-inning duties, but Varland isn't doing anything yet to suggest he's going to give the job back. Hoffman may simply be better equipped mentally for a set-up role -- he thrived in that assignment with the Phillies in 2023-24 before signing with the Jays in free agency, racking up 32 holds with a 2.28 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 11.98 K/8 in those two seasons.

APRIL 29 • ROTOWIRE

Trey Yesavage has a sharp season debut as Blue Jays beat Red Sox 3-0

Trey Yesavage pitched into the sixth inning in a sharp season debut, Kazuma Okamoto drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0

APRIL 29 • Associated Press

Jesús Sánchez has 2-run homer to give Blue Jays a 4-2 win over Guardians

Jesús Sánchez hit a two-run home run to take the lead, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-2

APRIL 26 • Associated Press

Blue Jays offseason failure completely backfires in wake of Jeff Hoffman news When the Toronto Blue Jays pursued moves to bolster their roster this past offseason, they had looked for upgrades both for their hitting an...

APRIL 25 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM

Blue Jays turn to closer by committee after Jeff Hoffman's struggles It appears as if the Toronto Blue Jays will have a closer by committee for the foreseeable future. It is no surprise that the Blue Jays deci...

APRIL 24 • BLUEJAYSNATION.COM

Blue Jays are moving struggling Jeff Hoffman out of the closer's role

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins says the team is moving Jeff Hoffman out of the closer’s role

APRIL 24 • Associated Press

Blue Jays make Jeff Hoffman closer decision | Sporting News Toronto finally made up its mind.

APRIL 24 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Jeff Hoffman's hold on the Blue Jays closer's role has been relinquished...for now Jeff Hoffman is no longer the full-time closer for the Toronto Blue Jays...for now, says Blue Jays' GM Ross Atkins. The front office leader...

APRIL 24 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM

3 Top Trade Targets to Replace Jeff Hoffman After Blue Jays Demotion The Toronto Blue Jays should be looking to the trade market right now already.

APRIL 24 • SI.COM

Blue Jays remove Hoffman as closer, will use committee approach Jeff Hoffman is out as the Blue Jays' closer after a rough start to the season. Toronto general manager Ross Atkins told reporters on Friday...

APRIL 24 • MLB.COM

Blue Jays announce overdue closer change Maybe the first sign of trouble around Jeff Hoffman was when the Toronto Blue Jays' closer allowed a game-tying home run to light-hitting Lo...

APRIL 24 • THEBIGLEAD.COM

Drops to closer committee GM Ross Atkins announced Friday that Hoffman could still see occasional save chances but will no longer be the primary closer as the Blue Jays shift to a committee approach, Ben Ni...

Impact Manager John Schneider was noncommittal to Hoffman as Toronto's closer earlier this week after nearly blowing his fourth save of the season, so it's not a major surprise the club is making a change. It doesn't appear to be a full demotion for the 33-year-old right-hander, who recorded 33 saves with a 4.37 ERA during the 2025 regular season, but it also wouldn't be surprising for him to get some work in lower-leverage spots. Hoffman has surrendered nine earned runs with a 24:6 K:BB across 10.2 innings this year. Louie Varland was the only other player mentioned as a potential closer, but the Blue Jays are also expected to utilize some other arms for the ninth inning.

APRIL 24 • ROTOWIRE

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 con...

APRIL 24 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM

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...

APRIL 24 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM

Manager noncommittal on closer role Blue Jays manager John Schneider did not commit to Hoffman as his closer when asked Wednesday if he would consider using other relievers in the ninth inning, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet...

Impact Schneider said he's "not ready to make a firm comment" on the closer role, noting that he wants to have a discussion with Hoffman before announcing a decision. Hoffman was pulled from a save chance Tuesday versus the Angels with the bases loaded and one run already in. He was relieved by Louis Varland, who closed things out by inducing a game-ending double-play ball on the one and only pitch he threw. Hoffman has struck out 24 in 10.2 innings this season, but he's walked six, blown three saves and posted a 7.59 ERA and 2.06 WHIP. If Schneider does opt for a change at closer, Varland should be next in line.

APRIL 22 • ROTOWIRE

Here's the plan Blue Jays could use to replace Jeff Hoffman at closer | Sporting News Toronto might have to figure this out.

APRIL 22 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Ranking Blue Jays' realistic options to replace Jeff Hoffman as closer immediately It looks like the Toronto Blue Jays are getting less and less comfortable with the idea of Jeff Hoffman as their closer. Over the last four...

APRIL 22 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM

Sosa has tiebreaking 2-run double, Varland snuffs out Angels rally as Blue Jays hold on for 4-2 win

Lenyn Sosa had a pinch-hit, two-run double during a three-run eighth inning, reliever Louis Varland bailed out struggling closer Jeff Hoffman by inducing a game-ending double-play...

APRIL 22 • Associated Press

Nearly blows game for Toronto Hoffman hit two batters and allowed one run on two hits while striking out a batter during the Blue Jays' 4-2 win over the Angels on Tuesday.

Impact Hoffman got the call to protect the Blue Jays' 4-1 lead in the ninth. He started the inning strongly by striking out Zach Neto, but Hoffman's night quickly turned for the worse. The latter yielded a single to Mike Trout before hitting the next two batters he faced. Blue Jays manager John Schneider saw enough after Hoffman gave up an RBI single to Yoan Moncada, with Schneider turning to Louis Varland to close things out, who did so successfully with just one pitch that resulted in a double play. Hoffman wasn't credited with the blown save, but the fact he was pulled from a high-leverage situation is not a good sign for his job security as Toronto's closer. He sits at a 7.59 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB across 10.2 innings.

APRIL 22 • ROTOWIRE

Hoffman knows why he's been ineffective recently, Blue Jays hope he can solve the issue This is not the start to the season that Jeff Hoffman had envisioned, especially after an up-and-down 2025 season. He’s posted a 7.71 ERA ov...

APRIL 21 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM

Fans three in third save Hoffman notched a save against the Angels on Monday, allowing one hit and striking out three batters over a scoreless inning of work.

Impact Hoffman entered with a three-run lead in the ninth inning and gave up a single to the first batter he faced. However, the right-hander proceeded to strike out the following three hitters to close out the contest. This was a much-needed performance for Hoffman after he picked up a loss and a blown save while yielding six runs over 1.2 innings across his previous two appearances. Manager John Schneider has expressed confidence in Hoffman as the team's closer, and at least for Monday, that confidence appeared justified.

APRIL 21 • ROTOWIRE

Cease strikes out 12 in 5 innings and Guerrero homers as the Blue Jays beat the Angels 5-2

Dylan Cease struck out 12 in five innings and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-2

APRIL 21 • Associated Press

Blue Jays manager hasn't lost any faith in Jeff Hoffman as Toronto's closer just yet This past Saturday, the Toronto Blue Jays were the unfortunate recipients of another meltdown from their closer Jeff Hoffman. With a single,...

APRIL 20 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM

A struggling Jeff Hoffman is the least of the Blue Jays' concerns Having your closer give up a go-ahead grand slam in late innings is a bad look. But the fact that Jeff Hoffman was in that position in the f...

APRIL 19 • BLUEJAYSNATION.COM

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Okamoto goes deep twice, Sosa and Pinango each have three hits; Blue Jays beat Twins 7-3

Trey Yesavage has a sharp season debut as Blue Jays beat Red Sox 3-0

Jesús Sánchez has 2-run homer to give Blue Jays a 4-2 win over Guardians

Blue Jays are moving struggling Jeff Hoffman out of the closer's role

Sosa has tiebreaking 2-run double, Varland snuffs out Angels rally as Blue Jays hold on for 4-2 win

Cease strikes out 12 in 5 innings and Guerrero homers as the Blue Jays beat the Angels 5-2