Cubs Could Make A Move For Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman

[Steve Drumwright]

While interleague play has knocked down a lot of the walls of a player being a better fit for one league over the other, sometimes a player just feels more comfortable in either the AL or NL.

Could that be the case for Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Jeff Hoffman?

According to a report Saturday by Robert Murray of FanSided, the Chicago Cubs are among the teams interested in the Blue Jays' former closer. The Cubs entered Saturday as the top NL wild-card team. Hoffman finished an MLB-leading 59 games in 2025 with 33 saves, but did have issues down the stretch before becoming more reliable in the Jays' run to the World Series.

But this year, those troubles persisted and he lost his role as the closer. He entered Saturday with a 2.46 FIP (4.02 ERA) in 50 appearances and 47 innings. Hoffman has a walk rate of 8.1% and a strikeout rate of 35.2%, both career bests. He has five saves in nine chances, but none since May 23.

Hoffman is making $12.667 million this year and next year, but the Blue Jays are willing to move on from him with the team having never really been in contention this season and his erratic performance as a closer.

He had success in a setup role in two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies as well as one of his two years with the Cincinnati Reds. He began his MLB career with the Colorado Rockies.

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[Forever92]

Good to see there's interest in Hoffman 

[Eat My Shatkins]

When you consider how uninspiring the return for Hoffman would likely be, I'd rather hang onto him.

The Jays will still be trying to compete next year and he is 1/3rd of what has become a pretty deadly late inning trio for them in the bullpen. He's 15th in overall reliever fWAR in all of MLB. If you include Miles as a reliever the Jays have 4 guys in the top 25 reliever fWAR, but Miles is likely a starter next season.

If they can dig up another high leverage reliever or two they could have one hell of a shut down bullpen next season.

[Stangstag]

10 minutes ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

When you consider how uninspiring the return for Hoffman would likely be, I'd rather hang onto him.

The Jays will still be trying to compete next year and he is 1/3rd of what has become a pretty deadly late inning trio for them in the bullpen. He's 15th in overall reliever fWAR in all of MLB. If you include Miles as a reliever the Jays have 4 guys in the top 25 reliever fWAR, but Miles is likely a starter next season.

If they can dig up another high leverage reliever or two they could have one hell of a shut down bullpen next season.

Personally think its time to move on from him regardless. He’ll never be appreciated by the fans here and this could possibly the last good stretch of games he’s able to put together.

If he finds success next year with a new team, that’s totally fine. 

Relievers are a dime a dozen and a different guy wont have the baggage/bad history here like Hoffman does.

[Forever92]

15 minutes ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

When you consider how uninspiring the return for Hoffman would likely be, I'd rather hang onto him.

The Jays will still be trying to compete next year and he is 1/3rd of what has become a pretty deadly late inning trio for them in the bullpen. He's 15th in overall reliever fWAR in all of MLB. If you include Miles as a reliever the Jays have 4 guys in the top 25 reliever fWAR, but Miles is likely a starter next season.

If they can dig up another high leverage reliever or two they could have one hell of a shut down bullpen next season.

Could keep Hoffman and trade Rogers instead? If he will get good return 

[Eat My Shatkins]

9 minutes ago, Forever92 said:

Could keep Hoffman and trade Rogers instead? If he will get good return 

I'm saying Keep Varland, Rogers and Hoffman, and try to build an elite shut down BP around them. It might not work, but I have more faith in that being a success than I would have faith in any return Rogers or Hoffman fetching becoming anything substantial.