Toronto's bid for a decade-long division title is shadowed by a bullpen in flux after the All-Star break. Hoffman has struggled, serving up homers and blowing late leads, including a ninth-inning shot to Yainer Diaz that doomed a comeback against Houston. The Jays still lead the AL East by three games, but playoff savor hinges on stabilizing late innings and Hoffman’s next few outings.

Depth arms—Louis Varland, Yariel Rodríguez, Brendon Little, Tommy Nance, Braydon Fisher—offer options if Hoffman falters, and Seranthony Dominguez is a logical closer fallback given his prior closing work. Fantasy managers should watch how Toronto choreographs late-innings duties down the stretch and into October.

The Twins unloaded their five top relievers at the trade deadline—Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia, Griffin Jax to the Rays, Louie Varland to the Blue Jays, Brock Stewart to the Dodgers and Danny Coulombe to the Rangers—shifting the late innings to a new group and leaving questions about an immediate payoff with their prospects haul. Duran has thrived in Philly (1.69 ERA) while the other four have struggled with their new clubs, fueling debate on whether the risk was worth the potential long-term gain.

Ten Aug-Sept relief-heavy games that could have swung Minnesota’s results underline the volatility of such a purge. The Daily Delivery podcast weighs the possibility of a stronger bullpen in 2026 against the palpable cost in 2025, while also touching on Vikings optimism (and pessimism) and a subplot about J.J. McCarthy in quarterback-adjacent chatter. Fantasy players should watch how the rebuilt pen settles in and which rookie arms rise into key roles as the season winds down.

Kendry Rojas, Cuban lefty, on a fast track to the majors after the Twins acquired him at the deadline in the Louie Varland deal. He sits 93-98 mph with a three-pitch mix and a track record of whiffs, giving Minnesota a potential frontline starter or elite reliever if the development continues. In AAA, he’s adjusting to better-hitters and longer outings, with a modest 5.40 ERA but eye-catching strikeout potential as he sharpens command.

Rojas’ path hasn’t been linear—injuries and limited innings clouded the ceiling—but velocity gains and improved pitch execution hint at a high upside. He’s the youngest arm on the Saints and could factor into big-league plans as soon as next year. The trade also included Alan Roden, and the Twins have earmarked other young starters like Mick Abel and Taj Bradley as part of their rebuild. Representing Cuba remains a core part of his identity as he climbs the ladder.