Jeff Hoffman may not have been the most sought-after free agent or even free agent reliever, but to the Philadelphia Phillies, he was crucial to their bullpen success. He posted a career-best 2.17 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings pitched in 2024, leading to his first All-Star appearance in nine seasons.
Months have gone by this offseason with the reliever market at a standstill, with just one month until pitchers and catchers report to camp. Hoffman's market was starting to heat up, but it was still unclear where exactly he was going to end up.
On Friday, the right-handed reliever agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal also includes incentives that could take the deal to $39 million overall. The deal subsequently took Hoffman off the market and will hurt Phillies fans' hearts knowing the price tag wasn't ultimately out of reach. Oddly enough though, that wasn't the only contract Hoffman had agreed to in free agency.
Jeff Hoffman had a deal with another AL East team that fell through after a stunning revelation
According to FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, Hoffman and the Baltimore Orioles had previously agreed to a three-year, $40 million contract earlier in the week. The Orioles, however, questioned the results of the physical. According to Murray, it had to do with Hoffman's right shoulder. That is when the Orioles pivoted to signing right-hander Andrew Kittredge to a one-year, $10 million deal instead.
Sources: Before signing with the Blue Jays, Jeff Hoffman had reached a three-year, $40 million agreement with the Baltimore Orioles.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 11, 2025
The Orioles flagged Hoffman’s physical and now the right-hander is in Toronto: https://t.co/fmepOO1qqW
It's not an issue fans would expect to arise in a deal for Hoffman. Per Spotrac, the last time Hoffman missed any time due to his shoulder was in 2021. When the obstacle came up, Hoffman and his agents at CAA immediately turned their attention to the Blue Jays and were able to get a deal done. Hoffman will also remain a bullpen arm after rumors he might sign as a starter, which again twists the knife for Phillies fans.
It begs the question that if the Phillies were to engage in talks with Hoffman, would the same physical give pause to a potential deal? It's quite possible, but the push to be a starter could have raised questions about the health of his shoulder. It will pain Phillies fans that the expectation of a Clay Holmes-type deal remained true and conversations never seemed possible. Hoffman got the deal he deserved and now takes his services back to the Blue Jays where he was originally drafted.