TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays and All-Star relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman have finalized a three-year contract worth $33 million. The announcement was made on Friday night, just two days after Hoffman celebrated his 32nd birthday.
In the previous season, Hoffman played for the Philadelphia Phillies, where he recorded a 3-3 win-loss record with a remarkable 2.17 earned run average (ERA) and secured 10 saves. His outstanding performance earned him his first All-Star selection in July, marking a significant milestone in his career, which also includes setting personal bests in ERA, saves, and total appearances with 68.
Over 66 and one-third innings pitched, the right-handed pitcher managed to strike out 89 batters while walking only 16. Opponents faced a challenging time at the plate, maintaining a batting average of just .197 against him, along with an impressive WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) of 0.96 before he entered free agency.
Toronto’s general manager, Ross Atkins, expressed his enthusiasm about Hoffman’s addition to the bullpen. “We are thrilled to have Jeff join our team. His ability to throw strikes, combined with his impressive repertoire and skill to handle various hitters, will undoubtedly enhance our performance,” Atkins mentioned in a statement. “He will have the chance to close games for us during this season, and his competitive nature, along with his experience, makes him a valuable asset to our squad.”
Hoffman was originally drafted by the Blue Jays ninth overall in the 2014 amateur draft out of East Carolina. However, he never had the opportunity to pitch for Toronto, as he was traded the following year to the Colorado Rockies as part of a significant deal that brought star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and reliever LaTroy Hawkins to the Blue Jays.
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, Hoffman made his Major League Baseball debut with the Rockies in 2016. Throughout his career, he has recorded a 23-26 record with a 4.82 ERA over 256 games, including 50 starts, spanning nine seasons across teams like Colorado, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia.
During the 2023 National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Hoffman shone, pitching six shutout innings across five appearances. However, he faced challenges in the previous year’s playoffs against the New York Mets, where he ended up with a 1-2 record, allowing six runs in just 1 and 1/3 innings across three games in their Division Series matchup.
As part of the contract with the Blue Jays, Hoffman is set to receive a signing bonus of $5 million, along with salaries of $6 million in the first year and $11 million for each of the subsequent two seasons. Additionally, he can earn up to $2 million in performance bonuses based on innings pitched, with specific bonuses of $500,000 each for reaching 60, 70, 80, and 90 innings.
In a related roster move, the Blue Jays have designated right-hander Brett de Geus for assignment.
