Toronto Blue Jays Trade Former Closer to Minnesota Twins

The Toronto Blue Jays were expected to be sellers at Monday's MLB trade deadline, but instead worked out a balance of shedding some payroll while opening up spots on the roster.

Toronto dealt outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Houston Astros, but acquired starting pitcher Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels and acquired utility player Josh Smith from the Texas Rangers.

The Blue Jays balanced things out again by dealing away their former closer to an American League Central club.

Toronto dealt former closer Jeff Hoffman to the Minnesota Twins, per a report on "X" from the Athletic's MLB insider Ken Rosenthal.

Per a subsequent report from SportsNet reporter Ben Nicholson-Smith, the Blue Jays will receive left-handed starting pitching prospect Dasan Hill, right-handed reliever John Klein, second baseman Dameury Pena and $250,000 in international cap space.

The deal nets Toronto two pitchers, one with starting potential and one with major league experience out of the bullpen, and a second baseman with potential who's currently playing at the High-A level. The international cap space could also be a good safety net for the Blue Jays if the current structure of the international signing period remains the same, which is still up in the air due to the MLB's proposed CBA agreement, which would see the international format go to a draft whereas it's currently a free-agent signing format.

Hoffman's trade ends a tumultuous tenure with the Blue Jays.

Toronto signed Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million deal ahead of the 2025 season after a season where he made the All-Star game with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024.

Hoffman entered 2025 in the assumptive closer role with the Blue Jays but inconsistencies in his performance over the last two years led to the club going into a closer-by-committee approach before it was ultimately taken over by Louis Varland, who's yet to blow a save in over 20 opportunities this year.

Ironically, Toronto acquired Varland in a trade with the Twins.

In 2025, Hoffman posted a 4.37 ERA and struck out 84 batters in 68 innings pitched across 71 opportunities, but still was able to come through in save chances. He had 33 saves in 40 opportunities that year.

This season, Hoffman entered the year as a closer and had a 3.94 ERA and fanned 75 batters in 48 innings pitched across 51 appearances. He has 12 holds and five saves in nine opportunities.

In the playoffs last year, Hoffman upped his production and finished the team's American League-winning postseason with a strong showing. He fanned 18 in 12.1 innings pitched across 10 appearances and had a 1.46 ERA. He had two saves in three opportunities.