Blue Jays Sign Jeff Hoffman to Three-Year Deal
The Toronto Blue Jays have made their first splash signing of the offseason, announcing on their official Twitter account that they’ve signed right-handed reliever Jeff Hoffman to a three-year deal worth $33 million.
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FanSided’s Robert Murray reported that the total value of the deal could rise to as much as $39 million with incentives, while ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel added that Hoffman will receive a $500,000 bonus every time he reaches 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 innings across each individual year of the contract.
Murray also revealed that Hoffman had agreed to a three-year pact with the Baltimore Orioles worth $40 million earlier in the week, though the team flagged his physical due to a right shoulder issue and nixed the deal before signing Andrew Kittredge to a one-year, $10 million contract.
Via a press release from the Blue Jays, general manager Ross Atkins stated that Hoffman “will get an opportunity to close games,” shutting down the idea that he could be used as a starter, at least for the time being.
Hoffman was an instrumental piece of the Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen each of the past two seasons, posting a 2.28 ERA, 2.54 FIP and 158 strikeouts over 118 2/3 innings while earning the first All-Star nod of his career in 2024.
He was the No. 9 overall pick in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft by Toronto, so his return marks a bit of a homecoming. Hoffman was dealt as part of a package to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins at the 2015 trade deadline, and he found little success in the majors with the organization despite his status as one of baseball’s top pitching prospects.
Hoffman was sent to the Cincinnati Reds for fellow right-hander Robert Stephenson in November 2020. He was designated for assignment and non-tendered after the 2022 campaign before latching on with the Phillies in March 2023 on a minor league deal and developing into one of the most effective relievers in the league.
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