The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to bolster their bullpen, but one star reliever decided against going up North.
Toronto signed Jeff Hoffman last offseason to be the team’s closer, but he had a home run problem. With that, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins hinted at the team potentially finding a new closer.
Toronto has been linked to the likes of Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez, among others. Yet, Blue Jays insider Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reported the team did pursue Emilio Pagan before he opted to re-sign with the Cincinnati Reds.
“The Blue Jays would still have been at 39 with Ponce, making some wonder if they needed the extra spot more urgently,” Davidi wrote. “They were involved, to some degree, with Emilio Pagan before the veteran closer returned to the Cincinnati Reds, as the back-end relief market appears to be moving.
“One agent said his sense is that the Blue Jays are currently shopping at the higher-end of the relief market. And, they’ve been linked to Edwin Diaz. Although the three-time all-star would require the type of spend this front office hasn’t made in relievers. One name to consider is Robert Suarez, whom they pursued when he was a free agent three years ago.”
Pagan signed a two-year, $20 million deal to return to the Reds. The 34-year-old went 2-4 with a 2.88 ERA in 70 games, including going 32-of-38 in save opportunities.
Although Pagan didn’t sign with the Blue Jays, Toronto is looking to bolster the back end of its bullpen.
Blue Jays Outright Yariel Rodriguez
Toronto made a move to the bullpen, which was removing Yariel Rodriguez from their 40-man roster.
Rodriguez struggled down the stretch, and he will now enter spring training looking to make the roster. But Davidi believes the move gives Toronto more flexibility with its roster and 40-man.
“Having already signed Dylan Cease and reached an agreement with Cody Ponce, the Blue Jays arrived in Orlando as one of the off-season’s most active teams, and there was intrigue around them after Saturday’s decision to outright Yariel Rodriguez. On the one hand, the move could be viewed as little more than organizational housekeeping, creating additional flexibility on the 40-man roster at a time that’s of tremendous value,” Davidi added.
Rodriguez is owed $7 million in 2026 and $8 million in 2027, while he has a player option for $6.3 million in 2028. Last season, the right-hander went 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA in 66 games, including two saves.
Toronto Not Committed to Hoffman as Closer
Hoffman had a very inconsistent season with the Blue Jays, and Toronto could remove him from the closer.
Following Toronto’s loss in Game 7 of the World Series, Atkins said Hoffman isn’t locked in as the closer.
“The great thing about Jeff is he’s not married to that,” Atkins said on Nov. 6. “Talking about the cohesion and team approach (of the Jays), he epitomizes that. I think he would be open to anything that makes us better.”
Hoffman gave up a home run in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 to tie the game. He finished the year going 9-7 with a 4.37 ERA in 71 games last season, including going 33-of-40 in save opportunities.
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