The Toronto Blue Jays are 24 games into the 2026 MLB season, and they already have a Jeff Hoffman problem. However, the bullpen performances of Louis Varland and Braydon Fisher can help with that.
Thanks to a three-game win streak, the Blue Jays have gained ground on the New York Yankees, the AL East leaders. However, they will need to muster up more wins to pull ahead of the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays.
To achieve that, they need Hoffman in peak form. Sadly, that is not the case right now. What can the Blue Jays do to fix this? One reporter offers a win-win solution that actually makes a lot of sense, the more you think about it.
Toronto Blue Jays Could Replace Jeff Hoffman With Louis Varland & Brayden Fisher
In light of the recent Hoffman performances and Varland’s one-pitch save, Keegan Matheson took to social media to share his thoughts on how to fix the Blue Jays’ closer problem.
“If the Blue Jays choose to move off Jeff Hoffman in the closer’s role, even briefly, I like the idea of Louis Varland sharing the 9th with Braydon Fisher,” Matheson wrote. “If the game allows for Varland in the 9th, great. (However) If a hot spot comes up earlier, it’s Varland’s, then Fisher gets the 9th. Any closer decision won’t be as dire and final as it feels, either.”
“If the Blue Jays give Hoffman a reset in lower leverage, he’ll still have every opportunity in the world to be closing games again soon. Their best bullpen (by far) is still with a good Hoffman in the 9th.”
Win-Win Solution
This sounds like a great way to reset the roles in the bullpen. For starters, it’s a win-win scenario as far as Hoffman is concerned.
If Hoffman is given a reset, but continues to struggle for the rest of the season, the tandem of Varland and Fisher should be able to see Toronto through to the playoffs. Additionally, if Hoffman’s reset is successful and he regains the closer role, Fisher and Varland can return to their pre-reset bullpen roles.
Win-win.
What Varland & Fisher Offer
Varland has demonstrated an ability to be a reliable high-leverage reliever. This is clear to see for anyone who looks at his usage from 2025.
Before coming over to the Blue Jays, Varland earned 17 holds in 51 games. In those games, he recorded 47 strikeouts and a 1.10 WHIP to go along with a 2.02 ERA.
In 12 games this year, he has been nothing short of perfect. Varland has pitched 13 innings, recording 19 strikeouts, allowing eight hits, and three walks, to go along with three holds and one save. Additionally, Varland owns a 0.85 WHIP and a 0 ERA.
Fisher is also enjoying a great start to his season, including 13 strikeouts, four holds, and a modest 2.08 ERA.
Jeff Hoffman Needs a Reset
Matheson isn’t the only one who recognizes that Hoffman needs a reset.
“We’ll re-evaluate everything, talk with him, see how he’s doing,” John Schneider said via Sportsnet. “He’s going through it, obviously, a little bit. We’ll see. Use the off-day to talk about it with him.”
“He’s a big boy. He understands that the spotlight’s on him a little bit and rightfully so.”
The tricky thing with Hoffman is that a lot of his underlying numbers are great. However, blown save opportunities and other similar factors skew the narrative.
Best-Case & Worst-Case Scenario
The best-case scenario is that Varland and Fisher fill in admirably as a closer tandem, while Hoffman regains his playoff form. Then, everything goes back to the way things were, and two months later, everyone forgets it even happened.
However, the worst-case scenario must be considered and prepared for. What if Hoffman doesn’t regain his form? Or, worse yet, what if Fisher and Varland both fail to perform when it matters most?
At least one or two internal options need to be explored to prevent Toronto from spiraling out of playoff contention.
Perhaps the best-suited contender for this role would be none other than Tyler Rogers. The submariner has allowed the same number of hits as Varland, despite not striking out as many batters as his fellow hurler.
Should things reach that point, the trade market should also be explored. The Blue Jays have been linked to Jojo Romero in the past. The 29-year-old southpaw eats high-leverage innings for breakfast, earning 20+ holds for back-to-back years prior to 2026.
To start off this year, Romero already has six holds in 11 appearances.
The sky isn’t falling yet; however, if things aren’t nipped in the bud and the worst-case scenario comes to pass, the Blue Jays need to do everything they can to prevent the season from getting out of hand.
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