Here's the plan Blue Jays could use to replace Jeff Hoffman at closer

Here's the plan Blue Jays could use to replace Jeff Hoffman at closer originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Blue Jays haven't gotten reliable performances yet from closer Jeff Hoffman.

Their fanbase would certainly like to see a change to someone who has been more consistent, like Louis Varland.

It's not that straightforward, of course. Moving Varland to the ninth inning means the fireman role he's held earlier in games wouldn't be his anymore.

Because of that, MLB.com's Keegan Matheson pitched this plan in a post on X on Wednesday:

"If the #BlueJays choose to move off Jeff Hoffman in the closer's role, even briefly, I like the idea of Louis Varland sharing the 9th with Braydon Fisher. If the game allows for Varland in the 9th, great. If a hot spot comes up earlier, it's Varland's, then Fisher gets the 9th."

MORE:This might be the weirdest way to get an inside-the-park HR

That's a logical plan. In the interim, Hoffman would probably get simple outings early in games or when games aren't that close.

To be clear, the Blue Jays haven't said they're going to do this, but clearly, it could be in the works.

Matheson also points out that a Hoffman move out of the ninth inning wouldn't necessarily be permanent.

"Any closer decision won't be as dire and final as it feels, either," Matheson wrote on X. "If the #BlueJays give Hoffman a reset in lower leverage, he'll still have every opportunity in the world to be closing games again soon. Their best bullpen (by far) is still with a good Hoffman in the 9th."