All-Star Reliever Jeff Hoffman Signs North of the Border
On Friday evening, the Toronto Blue Jays announced they had agreed to terms with 2024 All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman on a three-year, $33 million deal. The contract includes incentives of $500,000 for reaching 60, 70, 80, and 90 innings pitched each year, bringing the potential total value to $39 million. This signing marks the largest financial commitment the Blue Jays have ever made to a reliever, surpassing the $47 million deal given to lefty B.J. Ryan during the 2005 offseason.
Hoffman, the Blue Jays' first-round pick (9th overall) in the 2014 MLB Draft, is set to finally make his long-awaited debut with the team. According to various league reports, several teams were interested in Hoffman as a starting pitcher, but he’ll instead have the opportunity to close out games in Toronto. His long-awaited debut with the Blue Jays is expected this season.
The 32-year-old right-handed reliever relies heavily on his four-seam fastball and slider, which he throws 80% of the time. His fastball averages 97 mph, and he struck out an impressive 33% of the batters he faced in 2024. Hoffman has consistently improved over the past few seasons. Last year, he split closing duties with Phillies lefty José Alvarado, saving 10 games while posting a 2.17 ERA over 68 appearances.
According to MLB insider Robert Murray, before agreeing to a deal with the Blue Jays, Hoffman had a three-year, $40 million contract lined up with the Orioles. However, his physical flagged some concerns, leading the Orioles to lower their offer. Hoffman declined the reduced offer, and the Orioles pivoted, signing reliever Andrew Kittredge to a one-year, $10 million deal early Friday morning. The Blue Jays, despite Hoffman’s flagged physical, were willing to accept the high-risk, high-reward nature of the deal, and now they’ve secured him for the bullpen.
There’s no denying that signing Hoffman carries some risk, particularly considering potential physical concerns. The Blue Jays have now invested $48 million this offseason in relief pitching, which includes Hoffman, Yimi García, and Nick Sandlin (acquired via trade), along with a $21 million option exercised on reliever Chad Green last winter. These moves aim to revive a bullpen that suffered a collapse in 2024.
While Hoffman’s signing is a significant boost to the bullpen, the Blue Jays have yet to address their lineup in a meaningful way or extend superstar first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. The team hit the fifth-fewest home runs in MLB last season (156). Their most notable addition to the lineup so far is an elite defensive player with limited power, and they also traded second baseman Spencer Horowitz, one of their top offensive contributors in 2024.
Even with concerns over Hoffman’s physical condition, this is still a high-impact move for the Blue Jays. They’ve secured a high-calibre reliever at a reasonable price, improving what was their weakest link. Hoffman’s deal comes at a lower cost than former closer Jordan Romano’s would have, with the potential for even greater returns. If the team reaches the postseason during Hoffman’s three-year tenure, he will undoubtedly play a critical role in the season’s most important moments.
Despite this addition, the Blue Jays still face significant questions regarding their pitching staff and may need further reinforcements to compete through the gruelling 162-game season as contenders rather than bottom-feeders. General Manager Ross Atkins has plenty of work ahead this offseason to turn the Blue Jays into a winning team.
