Toronto Blue Jays looking at blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros to replace Jeff Hoffman
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Victor William
Jan 4, 2026 (3:39 PM)
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Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Toronto Blue Jays closer talk has Jeff Hoffman wobbling, and Josh Hader trade chatter creeping in.
Toronto's front office has been careful with the wording, but it is not subtle anymore. General manager Ross Atkins has said the club is not «married» to Hoffman as the primary closer heading into 2026.
Hoffman's 2025 line explains why this keeps coming up at every winter conversation. He finished with a 4.37 ERA across 68 innings, plus seven blown saves and 15 home runs allowed.
He still missed bats, striking out 11.1 per nine, and he piled up 33 saves in the regular season. The problem was the volatility, when his fastball leaked middle, the ball left the yard.
This is not a «Hoffman stinks» situation, it is a leverage math problem. If Toronto can slide him into a setup lane, John Schneider can pick matchups instead of forcing every ninth into the same script.
The context matters, too, because the Blue Jays committed real money to him. Hoffman signed a three-year, $33 million deal to return to Toronto, and that contract screams «high-leverage arm,» even if it is not always the ninth.
I'm still a bit surprised the Jays haven't acquired a closer this winter. If the Astros are looking to shed salary, it feels like the teams line up pretty well in a potential Josh Hader ($19M AAV) trade.
Not saying HOU wants to move him, but the Jays have a lot of what the Astros need, and HOU could reinvest that $$ into other areas of the roster.
Not saying HOU wants to move him, but the Jays have a lot of what the Astros need, and HOU could reinvest that $$ into other areas of the roster.
That's why the tweet floating an Astros target makes some sense on paper. The idea is that Houston'sHader could be the type of proven finisher who lets Hoffman shift into a cleaner eighth inning role.
Toronto Blue Jays rethink Jeff Hoffman closer
As a Jays fan, I can admit the ninth inning stopped feeling automatic far too often.
Hader is a real-name closer, but the trade path is messy before you even talk talent. He's on a five-year, $95 million deal, and multiple reports note a full no-trade provision, so he controls any destination.
Health is another piece Toronto would have to check, not guess. MLB Trade Rumors reported Hader missed the final two months of 2025 with a shoulder capsule sprain, and Houston even added Craig Kimbrel for depth.
If that hurdle cleared, the baseball fit is easy to see. A lefty closer with swing-and-miss stuff changes late-game matchups, and it takes the «one mistake homer» fear off Hoffman's shoulders.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 4|481 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays looking at blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros to replace Jeff Hoffman Should the Toronto Blue Jays pursue Josh Hader to move Jeff Hoffman out of the closer role? | ||
| Trade for Josh Hader | 355 | 73.8 % |
| Keep Jeff Hoffman | 68 | 14.1 % |
| Closer committee | 36 | 7.5 % |
| Add cheaper arm | 22 | 4.6 % |
| List of polls | ||