The Toronto Blue Jays sign free agent All-Star RHP Jeff Hoffman to 3-year deal
The Toronto Blue Jays announced the signing of Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33MM free agent contract. Jon Morosi of the MLB Network reported earlier this evening that Hoffman and the Jays had productive conversations on a potential multi-year deal.
The deal contains an additional $6MM in performance bonuses for the CAA client, reports Robert Murray of FanSided.
General manager Ross Atkins said in a statement that Hoffman «will get an opportunity to close games for us» (relayed by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com).
That suggests they're planning to keep the right-hander in the late innings.
Hoffman returns to the organization that drafted him more than a decade ago.
The righty was Toronto's first-round pick (ninth overall) out of East Carolina in 2014.
He was a high-profile starting pitching prospect who landed among Baseball America's Top 100 prospects in each of his first three professional seasons.
Hoffman didn't spend long in the Toronto system.
One year after the draft, the Jays dealt him to the Rockies as part of the return in the Troy Tulowitzki deadline blockbuster.
The early portion of Hoffman's major league career was a struggle.
Like many young pitchers, he struggled to adapt to Coors Field. Hoffman had an earned run average north of 6.00 over parts of five seasons with the Rox.
Colorado swapped him to the Reds for Robert Stephenson in advance of the 2021 season.
Stephenson and Hoffman were each former top prospects whose careers would take off after a move to the bullpen.
Welcome to Toronto Jeff Hoffman!
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JANVIER 10 | 196 ANSWERS The Toronto Blue Jays sign free agent All-Star RHP Jeff Hoffman to 3-year deal Is Jeff Hoffman a good addition to the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen? | ||
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