Jeff Hoffman’s Rollercoaster Offseason Ends with Blue Jays Deal

Jeff Hoffman: A Journey from Uncertainty to a New Beginning with the Toronto Blue Jays

In the world of Major League Baseball, the offseason is often a time of anticipation and excitement as teams and players negotiate deals that can shape the future of franchises. However, for Jeff Hoffman, this offseason has been a rollercoaster ride filled with unexpected twists and turns. The Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves both backed out of agreements to sign Hoffman due to concerns about the reliever’s pitching shoulder. Despite these setbacks, Hoffman found a new home with the Toronto Blue Jays, finalizing a $33 million, three-year contract last week.

During the Blue Jays’ introductory videoconference, Hoffman addressed the concerns raised by the Orioles and Braves. “The stuff they saw on the MRIs, whatever they saw was what their team docs were saying,” he explained. “Not any bit in line with the way I feel, though, so it’s not something that I’m really concerned about or worried about.”

Hoffman, a right-hander who turned 32 on January 8, underwent in-person physicals for deals with both the Orioles and Braves. Reflecting on the situation, he said, “All the flags, physical stuff, was as big a surprise to me as anybody. If you can check my kind of track record over the past few seasons, I’ve been as healthy as anybody. It’s a nonissue for me. It’s just something that they wanted to bring up and the Blue Jays see me for what I am. So I’d rather be in a place like that anyways.”

Representatives from the Braves and Orioles, Jared Burleyson and Jackie Harig respectively, declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays offered Hoffman a deal that includes a $5 million signing bonus and salaries of $6 million this year and $11 million in each of the following two seasons. Additionally, Hoffman can earn up to $2 million annually in performance bonuses for innings pitched: $500,000 each for 60, 70, 80, and 90 innings.

Hoffman expressed confidence in his physical condition, stating, “When the team docs got their hands on me and everything for the actual physical orthopedic exam, there was really nothing to worry about. My body’s moving great, range of motion, everything is normal for me and it’s as it would be midseason.”

It’s worth noting that Hoffman was last on the injured list in 2022 with Cincinnati, when he didn’t pitch after July 23 due to right forearm stiffness. He also spent time on the IL from May 27 to July 21 in 2021 because of a sore right shoulder and was sidelined by right shoulder inflammation early in the 2018 season while with Colorado.

Despite these past injuries, Hoffman had a standout season last year, earning his first All-Star selection. He went 3-3 with a 2.17 ERA and 10 saves for the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies. He set career bests for ERA, saves, and appearances (68), striking out 89 and walking 16 in 66⅓ innings. Opposing hitters were held to a .197 batting average with a 0.96 WHIP. However, he struggled in the playoffs against the New York Mets, going 1-2 while allowing six runs in 1⅓ innings over three outings in their division series.

Hoffman’s contract with the Blue Jays includes incentives for individual achievements. He would earn $150,000 for winning a Cy Young Award, $125,000 for finishing second in the voting, $100,000 for third, $75,000 for fourth, and $50,000 for fifth. He would receive $100,000 for winning Reliever of the Year and $75,000 for becoming a finalist, $50,000 each for making the All-Star team or winning World Series MVP, and $25,000 for winning League Championship Series MVP.

Returning to his original big league organization, Hoffman was selected by the Blue Jays with the ninth pick in the 2014 amateur draft before being traded to Colorado a year later. During the videoconference, he proudly displayed the Blue Jays’ draft card framed on a wall in his home in the Orlando, Florida, area.

Reflecting on the journey, Hoffman said, “Been a little chaotic, obviously. Not stuff that we necessarily agreed with when we were going through the process, but teams have their ways of looking at physicals and stuff like that, and at the end of the day, the ball’s in their court on that kind of stuff. So we’re really excited that Toronto was kind of in it from the beginning and kept contact through the whole process, and we always kind of felt like it was a really cool place that we could end up.”

• Jeff Hoffman’s journey from uncertainty to a new beginning with the Toronto Blue Jays highlights the unpredictable nature of MLB negotiations.
• Despite concerns from the Orioles and Braves, Hoffman’s confidence in his physical condition remains unwavering.
• The Blue Jays’ commitment to Hoffman underscores their belief in his potential to contribute to the team’s success.