Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman breaks silence on Orioles, Braves collapse
Right-handed Jeff Hoffman accepts a new opportunity with the Toronto Blue Jays after a dramatic offseason trip which includes two contracts in the major leagues that are falling apart. The Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves both reneged on the agreement due to concerns about Hoffman’s throwing shoulder, which ultimately paved the way for his three-year, $33 million deal with Toronto.
“The things they saw on the MRI, whatever they saw was what their team documents said,” Hoffman said during his introductory Blue Jays press conference. “However, it’s not at all consistent with the way I feel, so it’s not something I’m really worried or concerned about.”
Hoffman, who turned 32 on January 8, agreed to terms with the Orioles for $40 million over three years and the Braves for five years at $45 million to $48 million. However, both contracts fell apart after physical inspections. “All the flags, the physical things, were as big a surprise to me as anyone,” Hoffman admitted.
Jeff Hoffman begins his journey with the Blue Jays after his strange offseason
After a standout 2024 season with the Phillies, where Hoffman posted a 2.17 ERA and 10 saves in 68 appearances, the right-hander was one of the most desirable bullpen arms on the market. The Blue Jays jumped at the chance to sign Hoffman, who also expressed gratitude for Toronto’s persistence. “We always felt like it was a really cool place to end up,” Hoffman said.
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Hoffman’s rebounding career followed years as a starter. Drafted ninth overall by the Blue Jays in 2014, Hoffman never played for Toronto before being traded to Colorado in the Jose Reyes for Troy Tulowitzki deal. He now returns as a key part of the Blue Jays bullpen, and general manager Ross Atkins is optimistic about his potential impact.
“Jeff’s arsenal, throwing and ability to miss bats against all types of hitters is elite and will undoubtedly make us better,” Atkins said. “Jeff will get a chance to close games for us.”
Despite the questions raised during the examination, Hoffmann remains confident in his health. “When the team doctors got hold of me… everything is normal for me and it’s like it was in the middle of the season,” he assured.
For the Orioles and Braves, the loss of Hoffman has left questions about their bullpen depth, while the Blue Jays are banking on the reliever’s ability to build on his All-Star season. As spring training approaches, Hoffman’s journey from health issues to a key role in Toronto’s bullpen adds intrigue to his story, and potentially to the Blue Jays’ playoff hopes.
2025-01-15 23:38:00
