The Blue Jays signed All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman Friday to a three-year, $33 million contract.
Hoffman, a 32-year-old right-hander, had a career year in 2024 with the Philadelphia Phillies, going 3-3 with a 2.17 ERA in 68 appearances, logging 10 saves.
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Jon Morosi of MLB Network was first to report Friday that the two sides were talking.
“We are excited to add Jeff to our bullpen,” Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said in a statement relayed by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. “His arsenal, strike throwing, and ability to miss bats against all types of hitters is elite and will undoubtedly make us better. Jeff will get an opportunity to close games for us…”
Ross Atkins on the #BlueJays signing Jeff Hoffman:“We are excited to add Jeff to our bullpen. His arsenal, strike throwing, and ability to miss bats against all types of hitters is elite and will undoubtedly make us better. Jeff will get an opportunity to close games for us…”
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) January 11, 2025
Atkins also noted in his statement that Hoffman will have an opportunity to close for the Blue Jays, a role he occupied at times in 2024 in Philadelphia. Coincidentally, the Phillies signed former Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano after Toronto non-tendered him.
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The Jays ultimately decided to take a chance on Hoffman, who struggled as a starter early in his career in Colorado, before resurfacing as a valuable bullpen piece for the Cincinnati Reds in 2022.
Hoffman gets $33 million, sources say. The deal has incentives that could take it to $39 million. https://t.co/G3OBO8lnUD
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 11, 2025
Over the last three seasons, Hoffman has gone 10-5 with a 2.70 ERA in 157 innings for the Reds and Phillies, striking out 203 batters while walking only 58 in 163.1 innings.
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As noted by multiple reporters, including FanSided’s Robert Murray, Hoffman’s new contract includes performance incentives that can increase the total outlay to $39 million. Even if those bonuses aren’t unlocked, it’s the largest financial commitment the Blue Jays have made to a relief pitcher in 10 seasons with Atkins as GM, according to SportsNet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith.
Jeff Hoffman will get the opportunity to close games for Blue Jays, GM Ross Atkins says via statement. “We are excited to add Jeff to our bullpen.”It’s the biggest financial commitment the Blue Jays have made to a reliever in 10 off-seasons under Mark Shapiro and Atkins.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 11, 2025
The Blue Jays originally drafted Hoffman as the ninth overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft, but traded him to Colorado in the deal that sent Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto.
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Hoffman was 10-16 with a 6.40 ERA in 68 games (38 starts) with the Rockies from 2016-2020.
Hoffman joins a Toronto bullpen that includes veteran holdovers Yimi Garcia, Chad Green and Erik Swanson.
Welcome back kid! (Photo by me) #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/zXowCChnj4
— Jamie Campbell (@SNETCampbell) January 11, 2025
In a corresponding 40-man roster move, the Jays designated pitcher Brett de Geus for assignment.
Hoffman’s real breakthrough came in April 2024, when he threw batting practice to Phillies star Bryce Harper, who was working back from offseason Tommy John surgery on his elbow.
Hoffman’s slider was so effective that day, Harper reportedly wondered aloud why Hoffman wasn’t pitching out of the Phillies’ bullpen. The rest is history. Now, Hoffman has a big contract to show for his efforts.
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