The Toronto Blue Jays signed free-agent closer Jeff Hoffman prior to the 2024 season, granting him a three-year, $33 million contract. They got pretty much what they hoped out of Hoffman, who had been Toronto’s first-round draft pick, ninth overall, in 2014, only to be traded a year later before ever putting on a Toronto uniform.
Hoffman pitched 68 innings over 71 games for the Blue Jays, recording the final out in a league-leading 59 of them, and was credited with a save 33 times. But Hoffman was also charged with seven blown saves, and the defending American League champions apparently believe they can do better.
The Blue Jays are widely reported to be on the hunt for bullpen upgrades at baseball’s annual Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, this week.
According to a new report out of Canada, published Monday, the team that came two outs away from winning their third World Series title is taking an interest in one of the top two free-agent closers on the market.
Toronto Eyeing San Diego Padres Bullpen Ace
Ben Nicholson-Smith, Blue Jays correspondent for the Canadian media outlet Sportsnet, reported that Toronto has been showing some interest in Robert Suarez, the top free-agent reliever not named Edwin Diaz, but itâs too soon to say whether thereâs meaningful traction on that front.”
Suarez, a 34-year-old native of Bolivar, Venezuela, signed as a free agent with the Padres in December 2021 after five seasons in Japanâs professional baseball leagues. He threw 47 2/3 innings over 45 games in 2022 for San Diego, striking out 61.
The Padres were excited about what they saw in their new discovery, and inked the electric reliever whose fastball has been clocked as high as 101.3 mph to a five-year, $46 million contract. Quite a payday for a pitcher who was already 31 years old and had started his baseball career in Venezuela’s domestic independent leagues, while working day jobs in construction and security.
But the Padres gave Suarez an opt-out clause in his contract after three years, and following the 2025 season, he took it, becoming a free agent all over again.
Hoffman’s Role Unclear
Were the Blue Jays actually to sign Suarez, he would almost certainly replace Hoffman in the closer’s role. The Padres closer’s 40 saves led the National League and were eight more than second-place Emilio Pagán of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Suarez also saved 36 games the previous year, third-most in the NL.
The signing, if it happens, would relegate Hoffman to a setup role, after he blew one last save â with the Blue Jays leading 4-3 in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With just two outs remaining to nail down the first Toronto championship since 1993, Hoffman gave up a game-tying home run to the Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas. Two innings later, starter Shane Bieber â pitching in relief in extra innings â surrendered a go-ahead home run to Los Angeles catcher Will Smith. The Blue Jays lost the game and the World Series.
Suarez never got to the World Series with the Padres, but in six postseason series he saved three games in 12 appearances, striking out 13 in 14 2/3 innings.
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