Toronto Blue Jays give reliever Jeff Hoffman $33 million for 3 years

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All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman and Toronto Blue Jays agree to a 3-year, $33 million contract


TORONTO — The star reliever Jeff Hoffman and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed a contract by three years and 33 million dollars.

The team announced the deal Friday night, two days after Hoffman’s 32nd birthday.

Hoffman went 3-3 with a 2.17 ERA and 10 saves last season for the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies and earned his first All-Star selection in July. He set career-best numbers in ERA, saves and appearances (68).

The right-hander struck out 89 and walked 16 in 66⅓ innings, holding opposing hitters to a .197 batting average and compiling a 0.96 WHIP before becoming a free agent.

“We are excited to add Jeff to our bullpen. His arsenal, his strike throwing and his ability to make hitters miss against all types of hitters is elite and will undoubtedly make us better,” said the Toronto general manager. , Ross Atkins, in a press release. “Jeff will have the opportunity to close out games for us this season. His track record, competitiveness and experience make him a great fit for this group.”

Hoffman was selected ninth overall by the Blue Jays in the 2014 amateur draft out of East Carolina, but has never pitched for them. He was traded the following year to the Colorado Rockies with three other players in a blockbuster deal that brought star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and the reliever Troy Hawkins to Toronto.

The 6-foot-5 Hoffman made his major league debut with the Rockies in 2016. He has a 23-26 record with a 4.82 ERA in 256 career games, including 50 starts, over nine seasons. with Colorado, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia.

Hoffman pitched six scoreless innings in five appearances for the Phillies in the 2023 National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. But he struggled seriously in last year’s playoffs against the rival New York Mets, going 1-2 while allowing six runs in 1⅓ innings in three outings in their division series.

Hoffman receives a $5 million signing bonus from the Blue Jays and salaries of $6 million this year and $11 million in each of the next two seasons. He can earn up to $2 million annually in performance bonuses for innings pitched: $500,000 each for 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

In another roster move, Toronto right-hander Brett de Geus was designated for assignment.