Blue Jays land Jeff Hoffman's replacement in surprising trade offer with the Brewers
|
Victor William
Jan 30, 2026 (3:05 PM)
|
|
Photo credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
The Blue Jays have been relentlessly upgrading their pitching staff, but acquiring Trevor Megill from Milwaukee would be the knockout punch that solidifies a championship-caliber bullpen.
While the focus has been on the rotation, adding a proven closer with elite stuff to pair with Jeff Hoffman is a move that just makes too much sense to ignore.
Reports suggest the Brewers might be willing to deal from their surplus, and Ross Atkins needs to be on the phone immediately.
Trevor Megill (Drafted Round 7, 2015 by Padres) has been a force at the back end of games when healthy.
Over the last two seasons, he has racked up 51 saves for Milwaukee, proving he has the ice-water veins required for the ninth inning.
His arsenal is simple but devastating: a four-seam fastball that touches 99 mph and a "knuckle-curve" that falls off the table, leaving hitters swinging at air.
The issue in Milwaukee is crowdedness, not talent.
With young flamethrower Abner Uribe (Drafted as Int'l FA, 2018 by Brewers) seizing the closer role late last year with a 1.67 ERA and 100+ mph heat, Megill has become a luxury the Brewers might cash in.
A "Co-Closer" committee is the future of winning
We saw how workload management hurt the Jays in October.
Bringing in Megill allows John Schneider to play matchups like a master tactician.
You could have Hoffman take the 9th one night, and Megill the next, keeping both arms fresh for the long haul.
Megill is coming off a season where he posted a 2.49 ERA and struck out 60 batters in 47 innings.
That is not a "fixer-upper"—that is an elite reliever who instantly shortens the game to seven innings.
Yes, his injury history is a concern, but the upside is a bullpen that rivals the best in baseball.
This is the kind of aggressive depth move that separates contenders from pretenders.
Get it done, Ross.
Also read on Toronto Baseball Insider :
Blue Jays on the verge of deal with left-fielder all-star free agent
Blue Jays on the verge of deal with left-fielder all-star free agent