Jeff Hoffman is out as the Blue Jays' closer after a rough start to the season.
Toronto general manager Ross Atkins told reporters on Friday afternoon that the team will employ a closer-by-committee approach for the time being, while Hoffman will still pitch regularly and be counted on for big outs.
“In the short term, we are going to share that [closing] responsibility," Atkins said. "He's still going to be getting very important outs for us, and I very much believe in him as a weapon for us.”
Hoffman has struggled to find consistency in the season's first month. He has as many blown saves (three) as saves and has pitched to a 7.59 ERA in 10 2/3 innings. Hoffman has allowed runs in three of his past four appearances, including a four-run outing in a 6-2 loss to the D-backs on Saturday.
The team still sees Hoffman as an effective reliever, but perhaps in lower-leverage spots.
“The way I think about Jeff and his situation is, I immediately think that we need to be better as an organization in the deployment of his arsenal and how we're helping him, putting him in situations [to] be successful, because of how good he has been and still is,” Atkins said.
Righty Louis Varland seems to be the most likely option to immediately fill the closer role, while Braydon Fisher, Tyler Rogers and Mason Fluharty are also options when Varland is needed in other spots.