Article: The Blue Jays Won the Closer Swap (This Time)

[Leo Morgenstern]

Jeff Hoffman and Jordan Romano have plenty in common. Born four months apart in 1993, they were each selected by the Blue Jays in the 2014 draft, Hoffman in the first round and Romano in the 10th. Both underwent Tommy John surgery early in their careers, Hoffman right before he was drafted and Romano not long after. 

Then, each bounced between multiple organizations before making his way back to the Jays. Romano was taken by the White Sox in the 2018 Rule 5 draft and subsequently traded to the Rangers, but Texas returned him to Toronto after a mediocre spring. It was the right decision by the Rangers – Romano wasn’t ready for the majors – but there’s no denying the Blue Jays caught a lucky break. A year later, Romano broke out as one of the game’s top relievers. He earned two All-Star nods with Toronto, while racking up more than 100 saves. 

Hoffman was the headlining prospect in the Troy Tulowitzki trade, and the Rockies later dealt him to the Reds. After a brief spring training stint with the Twins, Hoffman signed on with the Phillies in 2023. Over the next two years, he established himself as an All-Star reliever and gave the performance that ultimately earned him his three-year, $33 million contract from the Blue Jays last winter. 

Funnily enough, a month before Hoffman signed in Toronto, Romano (non-tendered by the Blue Jays after an injury-riddled 2024) inked a deal with Philadelphia. The two effectively switched places. Their fates are now intertwined. 

The Athletic’s Kaitlin McGrath reported the Blue Jays were “interested” in re-signing Romano before he joined the Phillies. Her colleague Matt Gelb reported the Phillies were “interested” in re-signing Hoffman before they pivoted to Romano. Yet, in the end, Philadelphia valued Romano more highly than Toronto did, while the Jays gave Hoffman the multi-year commitment the Phillies were hesitant to offer. 

At his best, Romano was lights out for the Blue Jays. Hoffman was nearly unhittable for the Phillies. But each team wanted what the other had. 

Of course, free agent signings aren’t a zero-sum game. One of these signings doesn’t need to be a failure for the other to be a success. Someday, we might look back and realize everyone involved – the Blue Jays and Hoffman and the Phillies and Romano – made the right decision from their point of view. Still, it’s impossible not to compare these two players, especially when they just faced off mano a mano. Or should I say, (Hoff)mano a (Ro)mano.

Before I get to that faceoff, however, I should zoom out for a moment. We can't compare Hoffman's and Romano's performances this week without considering their performances all season. 

Hoffman started his Blue Jays tenure on the right foot, with a 1.10 ERA and 1.43 FIP through his first 14 games. Romano, meanwhile, gave up 15 runs (14 earned) before he reached the 10-inning mark with the Phillies. Yet, Hoffman suffered through several poor outings in May. He has a 13.06 ERA and 7.92 FIP in 13 games since May 6. As for Romano, he has finally settled in. Since April 27, he has a 3.38 ERA and a 2.25 FIP in 14 appearances. He’s starting to look more like the shutdown arm who protected leads for the Blue Jays from 2020-23.

All told, through the first 62 games of the 2025 campaign, Hoffman and Romano have gotten off to similar starts. Hoffman has made 27 appearances, Romano 25. Hoffman has 13 saves, while Romano has eight saves and five holds (for a total of 13). Each pitcher has 11 shutdown outings and five meltdown outings, as defined by FanGraphs. Hoffman has two losses to his name, while the Blue Jays have lost six games in which he has appeared. Romano also has two losses to his name, and the Phillies have also lost six games in which he has appeared. According to FanGraphs WAR, they’ve provided their teams with roughly equivalent production; Hoffman has been two-hundredths of a win (i.e. a negligible amount) more valuable than Romano. And while Hoffman has more wins, more strikeouts, and a lower ERA, it’s worth keeping in mind that his average annual salary is $2.5 million higher than Romano’s, and the Blue Jays will be paying him in 2026 and ‘27 as well. He's supposed to be better.

On Wednesday night, he was. Hoffman came in to face the Phillies for the first time since he left in free agency. Two batters later, Romano was pitching against the Blue Jays for the first time in his career. 

Hoffman got the job done against his former teammates. He entered with two out in the top of the ninth inning. Alec Bohm singled to put the winning run on first base, but Hoffman induced a groundout from Nick Castellanos on a slider down and away. He kept the game tied, with the top of the Blue Jays order due to bat in the bottom of the frame.

Romano couldn’t do the same. While he got Bo Bichette to pop out, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled, and after Addison Barger struck out on seven pitches, Alejandro Kirk – Romano’s longtime batterymate – walked it off. He crushed a four-seam fastball for a double off the wall in right-center field.

Hoffman was one of the first Blue Jays on the field to mob Kirk in celebration. Romano quietly made his way back to the visitors’ dugout. 

The jury is still out on which team won the closer swap. Both Hoffman and Romano have the stuff to be dominant back-end arms, but so far, neither the Blue Jays nor the Phillies have gotten the reliable ninth-inning presence they were hoping for. In their first head-to-head matchup, however, it was the Blue Jays who came out on top. 

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