Blue Jays sign Hoffman to 3-year, $33M deal

The Toronto Blue Jays and All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman agreed to a three-year, $33-million contract, the club announced Friday.

The agreement has incentives that can take the deal as high as $39 million, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

"We are excited to add Jeff to our bullpen," Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said, per MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. "His arsenal, strike throwing, and ability to miss bats against all types of hitters is elite and will undoubtedly make us better. Jeff will get an opportunity to close games for us."

The Blue Jays designated right-hander Brett de Geus for assignment to make room for Hoffman on the 40-man roster, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.

Hoffman had previously agreed to a three-year, $40-million contract with the Baltimore Orioles before they flagged his right shoulder in a physical, sources told FanSided's Robert Murray.

However, the Orioles still made Hoffman a revised offer following the physical, a source told Nicholson-Smith. Baltimore reportedly pivoted to veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge to shore up its bullpen.

The right-hander developed into one of the game's premier relievers over the past two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. He owns an 8-5 record with a 2.28 ERA, 11 saves, and a 12 K/9 since the start of the 2023 campaign.

The 32-year-old was originally a first-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2014. Hoffman was later traded to the Colorado Rockies as part of the Troy Tulowitzki blockbuster in 2015. He also pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 2021 and 2022.

Hoffman is the latest addition to a revamped Blue Jays bullpen. The club signed veteran right-hander Yimi García to a two-year contract and acquired right-hander Nick Sandlin in the Andrés Giménez trade with the Cleveland Guardians.

The Blue Jays also non-tendered former closer Jordan Romano, who later signed a one-year contract with the Phillies.