The Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves withdrew from negotiations to sign pitcher Jeff Hoffman due to concerns regarding his shoulder before he ultimately agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays last week.
“The information from the MRIs and what their medical teams indicated was unexpected for me,” Hoffman stated during a Zoom conference introducing him as a Blue Jay. “However, I don’t feel any concern regarding my health, so I’m not worried about it.”
Hoffman, a right-handed pitcher who celebrated his 32nd birthday on January 8, participated in physical examinations for both the Braves and Orioles ahead of their potential agreements.
“The medical evaluations raised more questions than I anticipated,” he remarked. “Anyone can see my recent performance indicates I have been quite healthy. This situation isn’t a concern for me. The Blue Jays have recognized my capabilities, and I prefer this environment.”
Officials from both the Braves and Orioles opted not to comment on the matter.
Toronto’s contract with Hoffman includes a $5 million signing bonus, an annual salary of $6 million for the current year, and $11 million for each of the subsequent two years. Hoffman has the opportunity to earn an additional $2 million each year through performance incentives related to the number of innings he pitches, earning $500,000 at thresholds of 60, 70, 80, and 90 innings.
“During my physical examination, the assessments from the team doctors didn’t yield any significant issues,” Hoffman explained. “My body is functioning well, my range of motion is normal, and everything feels as good as it would in the middle of a season.”
Hoffman last found himself on the injured list while playing for Cincinnati in 2022, missing action after July 23 due to right forearm stiffness. He was also sidelined from May 27 to July 21 in 2021 due to shoulder pain and had right shoulder inflamation issues at the start of the 2018 season with Colorado.
Having earned his first All-Star selection last year, Hoffman is returning to the franchise that originally drafted him. The Blue Jays selected him with the ninth overall pick in 2014 before trading him to Colorado the following year. He displayed his pride in that moment by framing the Blue Jays’ draft card, which he displayed in his home office in Orlando, Florida.
“It has been a bit of a whirlwind, for sure,” Hoffman admitted. “There were certain viewpoints we didn’t fully agree with during negotiations, but each team has its protocols when evaluating physicals. Ultimately, it’s their decision. We’re thrilled that Toronto was engaged throughout the process and remained an attractive option for us.”
Last season, Hoffman recorded a 3-3 record, a 2.17 ERA, and secured 10 saves with the National League East champion Philadelphia Phillies, culminating in his first All-Star appearance in July. He achieved personal bests in ERA, saves, and games pitched at 68. In 66 1/3 innings, he struck out 89 batters while walking just 16, maintaining a .197 opponent batting average along with a 0.96 WHIP. However, Hoffman’s performance faltered in the playoffs against the New York Mets, where he finished with a 1-2 record while giving up six runs across 1 1/3 innings in three games during the Division Series.
His contract includes potential bonuses for individual accomplishments, including $150,000 for winning the Cy Young Award, varying amounts for finishing in the top five of the voting, and further bonuses for winning prestigious awards like Reliever of the Year and All-Star selections.
