{"id":626553,"date":"2026-04-24T23:24:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T23:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/626553\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T23:24:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T23:24:10","slug":"blue-jays-to-close-games-by-committee-with-jeff-hoffman-struggling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/626553\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Jays to close games by committee with Jeff Hoffman struggling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jeff Hoffman<\/a> has lost his job as the closer\u00a0of the Toronto Blue Jays<\/a>.<\/p>\n

News: Jeff Hoffman is out as the #BlueJays<\/a>\u2019 closer. <\/p>\n

They\u2019ll go with a closer by committee for now while Hoffman works on things in lower-leverage spots.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) April 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

General manager\u00a0Ross Atkins spoke to the media on Friday afternoon to reveal the team will close games by committee going forward while Hoffman tries to restore his game in lower-leverage spots.<\/p>\n

Hoffman said he\u2019s willing to do whatever is asked of him. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever puts the team in the best position to win. Right now, that\u2019s not me there. We can reevaluate periodically,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Just chatted with Jeff Hoffman about the #BlueJays<\/a> new closer situation. Said it\u2019s \u2018Schneider\u2019s ship\u2019 and he\u2019s willing to do whatever is asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever puts the team in the best position to win. Right now, that\u2019s not me there. We can reevaluate periodically.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mitch Bannon (@MitchBannon) April 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Hoffman, 33, has struggled considerably in his second season in Toronto, posting a 7.59 ERA alongside three blown saves over 12 appearances<\/p>\n

In Hoffman\u2019s last outing against the Los Angeles Angels<\/a> on Tuesday, he came on with the Blue Jays leading 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth before hitting two batters and allowing two singles. Hoffman was lifted in favour of Louis Varland<\/a>, who used one pitch to induce a game-ending double play.<\/p>\n

The right-hander struggled with consistency last season too, posting a 4.37 ERA with 33 saves and seven blown saves. Hoffman seemed to fine his form in the playoffs with a 1.46 ERA over 10 appearances, but gave up the infamous game-tying home run to Miguel Rojas<\/a>, the No. 9 hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a>, in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series. <\/p>\n

Varland, Tyler Rogers<\/a> and Braydon Fisher<\/a> all have the potential to close games going forward. <\/p>\n

The 10-14 Blue Jays open a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians<\/a> at Rogers Centre on Friday. <\/p>\n