The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly interested in one of baseball’s top relief pitchers in attempt to shore up what was a sometimes unreliable bullpen last season, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
The Jays spoke with Edwin Díaz’s representation during this week’s winter meetings, reports Rosenthal.
The three-time All-Star opted out of his contract with the New York Mets at the end of the 2025 season to become a free agent.
Rosenthal notes the meeting is “not necessarily a major development”, but the Jays have been in the market for other high-leverage relief pitchers, including Devin Williams, Pete Fairbanks and Phil Maton.
Rosenthal adds the Blue Jays’ bigger priority is starting pitchers with the likes of Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease and Tatsuya Imai available.
The Blue Jays were two outs away from capturing their first World Series title earlier this month until closer Jeff Hoffman allowed a game-tying home run to Los Angeles Dodgers’ No. 9 hitter Miguel Rojas in the ninth inning of Game 7.
Toronto would eventually lose in 11 innings.
The 32-year-old Hoffman, who will paid $11 million in each of the next two seasons, had an up-and-down debut campaign with the Jays in 2025, posting a 4.37 ERA and 33 saves over 71 games. He also had seven blown saves and allowed 15 homers, the most in the American League among relievers.
Hoffman was much better in the playoffs before the heartbreaking loss in Game 7, producing a 1.46 ERA over 10 games.
Diaz, 31, had another excellent season with the New York Mets, recording an 1.63 ERA and 28 saves alongside 98 strikeouts over 66.1 innings pitched.
The right-handed pitcher has spent the last seven seasons with the Mets, missing the 2023 campaign due to a knee injury suffered at the World Baseball Classic.
During the end-of-season media availabilities, Jays general manager Ross Atkins suggested Hoffman could be willing to move to a new, non-closer role next season
Ross Atkins, when asked if Jeff Hoffman would be the #BlueJays’ closer next season:
“The great thing about Jeff is he’s not married to that … I think he would be open to anything that makes us better.”
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) November 6, 2025
