As top-of-the-market shoppers and a team determined to enhance the back end of their bullpen, there seemingly isn’t a day that goes by that the Blue Jays aren’t linked to the high-end relievers available via free agency.

And with starting pitching shored up following the big bucks signing of Dylan Cease and the deal with Cody Ponce — which was finalized on Thursday morning — the noise around the Jays pursuit of a potential new closer will only amplify.

What does that mean for the incumbent in the flashpoint spot of the bullpen, Jeff Hoffman?

That remains to be seen, but manager John Schneider remains a staunch believer in the guy the team signed to a three-year, $33-million US contract on Jan. 10.

In the aftermath of Game 7 of the World Series, when Hoffman allowed a home run to Dodg

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