The Toronto Blue Jays are not sitting idly by while licking their World Series wounds. They are pushing forward and working towards flipping the script next postseason. Until then, they will continue to add to and improve their group of players. That includes adding a player like Devin Williams to their bullpen.
A new report has surfaced that the Blue Jays are after the same tier of relievers as the reigning World Series champions. This makes sense on a few different levels. Let’s examine why it makes sense and explore the most suitable available options.
Why the Toronto Blue Jays Are in the Market For a Late-Game Reliever
The Blue Jays finished the postseason with Jeff Hoffman as their closer. As GM Ross Atkins has mentioned, Hoffman is not tied to the closer position and simply wants to help the team win. His body of work with the Philadelphia Phillies in the two seasons before coming to Toronto suggests he’d be a better setup arm than closer.
Mitch Bannon of The Athletic released a new report that reveals the kind of pitchers the Blue Jays are targeting this winter. This includes specifying a few pitchers they won’t pursue.
“They may not end up the high bidders for top free-agent closers like Edwin Díaz or Robert Suarez, but the Blue Jays seem positioned to add an eighth- or ninth-inning weapon this offseason,” Bannon wrote on November 12th, 2025. “The Jays will likely monitor the markets for free agency’s top closers. But, more likely, they’ll be shopping in the same bullpen tier as the Los Angeles Dodgers, for pitchers like Devin Williams, Pete Fairbanks, Phil Maton, and other similar relievers.”
In 2023 and 2024, he finished with 11 and 21 holds, respectively. Arguably, his best season was 2024, in which he earned 10 saves in 13 save opportunities, boasted a 0.96 WHIP, and a 2.17 ERA, while surrendering only six home runs on 48 hits.
Additionally, he walked only 16 batters (27 in 2025) and struck out a career-high 89 batters. All of this in addition to the 21 holds previously mentioned.
Blue Jays Eyeing Up New Role For Hoffman?
Bannon highlighted one of the most significant issues with having Hoffman close out games.
“The Jays finished the regular season with a 3.98 bullpen ERA, ranking 16th in the big leagues,” Bannon wrote. “The group was largely fine for most of the season, though the bullpen struggled mightily in August, and homer issues made Hoffman’s first year as closer tumultuous.”
“In the postseason, Toronto relievers posted a 4.44 ERA, ranking 10th of 12 postseason teams.”
Devin Williams, Pete Fairbanks, or Someone Else?
Looking at this winter’s free agency class reveals several excellent options for the Blue Jays to consider. Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez are likely to go to the highest bidder, which will most likely not be the Blue Jays.
Current projections have those two relievers looking at multi-year deals reaching $84 and $60 million, respectively. While the Blue Jays have no problem spending money if it means winning, the next tier below them features some options that might be a better fit and cost a fraction of the price.
Williams is projected to earn a one-year, $18 million pact or even a two-year, $30 million deal. He pitched 62 innings in 2025, earning 18 saves, 15 holds, 90 strikeouts, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 4.79 ERA for the New York Yankees. He only allowed five home runs on 45 hits.
Pete Fairbanks‘ market value is $13.8 million per season, according to Spotrac. For the Tampa Bay Rays, he pitched 60 1/3 innings, earning 27 saves, 59 strikeouts, a 1.04 WHIP, and a 2.83 ERA, while surrendering seven home runs off of 45 hits.
The last pitcher named above, Phil Maton, has a market value of $7.1 million per season. Last year, he pitched 61 1/3 innings, earning 22 holds, five saves, 81 strikeouts, a 1.06 WHIP, and a 2.79 ERA. Maton allowed three home runs off 42 hits.
Who is the Best Fit?
Of these options, Williams is the splashy option while Maton holds a ton of value. Maton has a good volume of strikeouts and has surrendered the fewest home runs. He doesn’t have a lot of closer experience, as in the past four seasons, he’s been the setup man.
Alternatively, Williams transitioned from setup man to closer in 2022. He has 86 career saves over the last four seasons, including a career high of 36 saves in 2023.
Fairbanks has 75 saves over the last three seasons, consistently earning over 20 saves per season. He’s not the strikeout threat that Williams or Maton are, but he doesn’t surrender a lot of home runs. In the three years that he’s been a closer, he’s been taken yard 14 times off 107 hits.
Even if the Blue Jays lose out on Williams, Maton, and Fairbanks are excellent options for a new closer or additional setup arm.
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