The Philadelphia Phillies will not have a key member of their bullpen when they prepare for the 2025 season. Last week, Jeff Hoffman concluded a great two-year tenure in Philadelphia by agreeing to a three-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. One NL East team that Phillies fans are well-acquainted with was among Hoffman’s many suitors.
Jeff Hoffman was dangerously close to joining the division rival Braves
FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray revealed on The JD Bunkis Podcast on Tuesday that Hoffman had a five-year contract worth about $48 million with the Atlanta Braves that would have bound him to the team until 2030 before he signed his contract with the Blue Jays, the team that originally selected him ninth overall in 2014. However, the Braves flagged his physical because they were worried about his shoulder, so the transaction was never officially finalized.
“I would not call it a failed physical, but they had concerns over the shoulder, and they attempted to re-negotiate his contract,” Murray stated. “They wanted to bring him still to Atlanta and they wanted him as a starting pitcher, but they flagged him at the level of money they originally signed him for but were willing to sign him for a lesser deal.”
This also applied to the Baltimore Orioles, who later withdrew from an agreement because of the same worries. Hoffman chose to sign a shorter contract with the Blue Jays as a reliever as a result, which included incentives and an average yearly salary of almost $11 million. It’s important to note that when the Blue Jays added him to their roster, they had different reservations.
Considering Hoffman was projected to handle innings as a starter, it’s understandable that teams remained cautious about his health. Throughout his career, he has never surpassed 100 innings in a season, with his personal best of 99 1/3 innings achieved in 2017 while playing for the Colorado Rockies. The closest he came since then was in 2021, when he logged 73 innings with the Cincinnati Reds.
Hoffman has compiled a career record of 23-26 with a 4.82 ERA across 256 games (50 starts) while playing for the Phillies, Reds, and Rockies. Much of his inflated numbers stem from a challenging stint with the Colorado Rockies. However, since 2023, Hoffman has emerged as one of baseball’s top relievers. During his two seasons with the Phillies, he recorded an impressive 8-5 record, a 2.28 ERA, and 158 strikeouts.
If Hoffman had signed with the Braves, it would have been a significant setback for the Phillies, given that Atlanta is likely to be a strong contender for the NL East title this year. With key players like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider set to return from injuries, Hoffman would have added to the Braves’ arsenal as they aim to rebound from a challenging, injury-plagued season. Additionally, his versatility could have been invaluable, serving as either a potential replacement for Max Fried in the rotation or as a reliable high-leverage reliever in critical moments.
Luckily for the Phillies, they will face the former All-Star in only two series during the 2025 season. Hoffman’s first opportunity to pitch against his former team will come in early June, when the Phillies head to the Rogers Centre for a three-game series against the Blue Jays.
