The Toronto Blue Jays’ offseason will involve more names than Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker.
After nearly winning it all this season, but falling just short to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, the Blue Jays are sure to look to improve their roster this postseason. Toronto is viewed as one of the favorites to sign Tucker in free agency, but there are still other areas the Blue Jays need to address this offseason.
MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson predicts that the Blue Jays will target New York Mets reliever Ryan Helsley in free agency.
“For much of 2025, postseason included, Hoffman was a dominant closer,” Matheson wrote Saturday. “At other times, those words didn’t apply. The end result was a 4.37 ERA with 84 strikeouts over 68 innings. He also allowed 15 home runs in the regular season, then the game-tying home run to Miguel Rojas in the ninth inning of World Series Game 7. The highs were brilliant and the lows were low.
“When asked about Hoffman as the closer moving forward two weeks ago, GM Ross Atkins was noncommittal. Keep Ryan Helsley’s name in mind. The Blue Jays had talks with the Cardinals about Helsley at the last Trade Deadline, and that interest hasn’t disappeared.”
As Matheson mentioned, Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman was not the most dominant reliever in his debut season with the team. After being named an All-Star in 2024, Hoffman regressed in 2025. The 32-year-old is under contract for two more seasons, but could still serve a role as a reliever, perhaps just not as the closer.
Helsley, a two-time All-Star, struggled once he was traded to the New York Mets this season, posting a 7.20 ERA in 22 appearances with the team. That may help lower his value in free agency, with the 31-year-old projected to sign a three-year, $40 million contract.
Helsley is one of the top relievers in baseball. After the way the World Series ended, it would not be surprising to see the Blue Jays target a pitcher like him.
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