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Ex-MLB All-Star believes Toronto Blue Jays should make Max Scherzer their new closer

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Aug 13 2025, 5:44 pm
Ex-MLB All-Star believes Toronto Blue Jays should make Max Scherzer their new closer
Kirby Lee/Imagn Images

It seems that not even some former MLB players are sold on Jeff Hoffman being the Toronto Blue Jays closer going forward.

The Blue Jays chose to sign Hoffman to a three-year, $30-million deal last offseason, a signing that generated plenty of excitement in Toronto. While he has picked up 26 saves, he’s been quite inconsistent, as evidenced by his 4.41 ERA, which has led some to suggest he should be taken out of the closer role.

One individual who seemingly agrees he should be removed as the closer is former MLB first baseman Eric Hosmer, who had an impressive 13-year career in the big leagues. The 2016 All-Star has his own idea of who the Blue Jays closer should be going forward, and it’s a name few, if any, have suggested.

“Obviously Hoffman’s their closer, but something I’ve always teased is mad Max [Scherzer],” Hosmer said on OverDrive 1050. “If we were to see him in a relief role or even a closing role, with all due respect to Hoffman, I don’t know who you’d get the ninth inning to, whoever’s more comfortable.

“Mad Max has had so many innings, he’s had a lot of miles on that arm. To get him up and going for 200 innings is a hard ask. In the postseason, having him go six or seven every five days is tough. I would love to see him air it out for one inning… You guys can throw some LED lights and get some fire for him to come out of the bullpen there and get him fired up.”

Scherzer was signed to a one-year contract by the Blue Jays this past offseason and has been relatively good when healthy, with a 4.21 ERA through 47 innings. He’s racked up 49 strikeouts over that span while averaging 93.7 mph on his fastball.

The only time Scherzer has come out of the bullpen with any regularity throughout his career was back in his rookie season in 2008. It’s quite unlikely that the Blue Jays will go this route, though it is an interesting talking point to be had, given his age and injury history, paired with Hoffman’s struggles.

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