Which players are we avoiding this year, and why?  Are they over-valued, playing in a difficult environment, or on the precipice of a steep decline?  Whatever the reason, the Dynasty Guru writers have identified a few players whom we are avoiding.

Jeff Hoffman (Age: 33 Rank: 19)

Mr. Jeff Hoffman was an elite reliever in 2023 and 2024. Before those years, he really struggled when he began his career with Colorado in 2016 (Toronto traded him to Colorado), followed by a stop with the Cincinnati Reds. He comes to Philadelphia in 2023 and Boom! his career skyrockets off like a rocket out of Titusville, FL. Then gets a free agent deal with Toronto and well……let’s just say that rocket needs to refuel its tank. What happened? “WATTS THE DEAL”?

Hoffman became an elite reliever with Philadelphia for two main reasons. His fastball reached 97mph compared to 94mph from his previous employers. Second, his slider usage rose to 47%. Both pitches gained additional spin rate that wasn’t previously there. Hoffman slider was absolutely lights out in 2023. Opposing batters hit .074 with a whiff percentage of 44%. In 2024 there was much of the same, but some real subtle hints about 2025. You’re probably saying to yourself, man this dude seems absolutely elite, why is he in your avoid list again? Give me a minute and I’ll get there.

Fresh off the Philadelphia Phillies’ great run, Hoffman cashed in with the Toronto Blue Jays, securing the closer job. He was super hyped coming into the season and rightfully so. Hoffman ranked 15th last season here at the Dynasty Guru. Hoffman’s start to the season began like it should, ending April with a 1.35 ERA. And then things fell off the rails with his May ERA at 13.50. His up and down battles all year were reminiscent of Adam Hangman Page start as the champ, then back to the bottom.

Hoffman had a major collapse in 2025 from 2024. His fastball velocity fell ever so slightly from 96.7 mph to 96.4 mph. You might be saying, “well that’s not very much at all”. And you would be right on that. It’s not, but here’s the difference. In 2024 Hoffman had a +9 value on his fastball and in 2025 -5 on his fastball. “Woah that’s a massive difference”, yep it most certainly is. It didn’t help his shape, and command wasn’t the same on it.

Then comes a catastrophic collapse in his Barrel Rate Explosion. Went from 52% all the way down to 1%. This tells you when players made contact, they absolutely feasted off him.

There were too many times last year where he simply didn’t have any command of his pitches. While this can happen from time to time, it happened too frequently for me last season. For Hoffman to regain his 2024 status, he will need to re-command his shape and control of his pitches.

Going into the 2026 season, the Blue Jays are armed with several players I feel like could take over the closer role, including  Varland, Little, and an elite hold specialist Tyler Rogers. I see a potential closer platoon potentially on the horizon if Hoffman can’t get his command together. For a player currently going anywhere between round 10 and round 15, I’d certainly be banking on someone else. Leave him to the other owners.

Robert Suarez (Age: 34 Rank 15)

Robert Suarez closed 76 games the past two season with an average ERA of 2.87. So why would I avoid him? “WATTS THE DEAL”?

Situation — Suarez signed with the Atlanta Braves this off-season. Why is that important? Well the Braves just can’t seem to quit Raisel Iglesias. “Too Iglesias Too Iglesias to quit, Too Iglesias, Too Iglesias to quit, hey hey”

No matter how hard they try, they just keep throwing him back out there. They prefer him in the closer role. While I do believe Suarez will get save chances for the Braves, don’t expect him to get much unless something happens to Iglesias. I do think Suarez will be a solid reliever this season, I have no interest in paying the price to nab him at this moment in time. There are other players you can draft that will have a firm role as their teams closer.

(Chris “Wicky Wicky” Watts)