The Toronto Blue Jays and Relief Pitcher Jeff Hoffman agreed to a 3-year $33 million deal on Friday night. Hoffman is coming off a great season with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was one of the best relievers in the league last season with an outstanding 2.17 ERA over 66.1 innings of work. His tremendous season helped him make his first career MLB All-Star Game.
Hoffman has experienced a career resurgence in Philadelphia as he is one of just three pitchers with a sub-2.50 ERA and at least 50 appearances over each of the past two seasons. Will Hoffman be able to continue pitching well for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025 and beyond?
Toronto Blue Jays Offseason Summary
Blue Jays sign RHP Jeff Hoffman to a 3-year deal. pic.twitter.com/jAErt358X3
— MLB (@MLB) January 11, 2025
Toronto missed the MLB Playoffs in 2024 after qualifying in 2022 and 2023. Toronto’s marquee offseason move was acquiring Second Baseman Andres Gimenez from the Cleveland Guardians earlier this offseason. They also signed Relief Pitcher Yimi Garcia to a two-year deal. The Blue Jays also agreed to a one-year contract with First Baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to avoid arbitration. This move sets up the superstar for a monstrous payday following the 2025 season.
Guerrero Jr. was not the only player Toronto signed to a one-year deal. Catcher Alejandro Kirk and Center Fielder Daulton Varsho also agreed to contracts to return to Toronto for the 2025 season. The Toronto Blue Jays have made a concerted effort this offseason to sign free agents that would bolster their bullpen for the upcoming season. That is a sound decision as they had the second-worst bullpen ERA in the league last season. The only team with a worse bullpen ERA was the Colorado Rockies who play half their games in a hitter’s paradise.
Final Thoughts
Signing Hoffman was a shrewd move by the Toronto Blue Jays. They signed one of the league’s best relievers to improve an obvious weakness of their ballclub. Toronto will look to return to the postseason in 2025, but it will not be easy.
They will have to contend with teams like the Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles who will all be formidable and have playoff aspirations. If the Jays do not get better production from their bullpen this year, it will be another disappointing season for the team that may soon play in America’s 51st state.
