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The Blue Jays have upgraded their bullpen significantly by signing Jeff Hoffman to a three-year deal worth $33M. Hoffman, a client of CAA, will receive a $5M signing bonus and can earn an additional $6M in incentives. General manager Ross Atkins said that Hoffman will have the opportunity to close games for the team, indicating that he will be used in late-inning situations. Hoffman, who turned 32 this week, was originally drafted by Toronto in the first round in 2014 but was traded to the Rockies a year later.
After struggling in Colorado, Hoffman was traded to the Reds where he initially struggled before finding success with the Phillies. He posted impressive numbers during his time in Philadelphia, establishing himself as a key reliever with a high strikeout rate and low ERA. Hoffman’s performance over the past two seasons has been among the best in the league, ranking among the top relievers in various statistical categories.
Despite initially hoping for a larger contract, Hoffman ultimately signed with the Blue Jays on a deal similar to what other top setup arms have received in recent years. The signing comes after a period of slow movement in the reliever market and marks Toronto’s biggest free agent move of the offseason.
The Jays will have to manage their luxury tax threshold as they look to potentially make additional upgrades to their roster. In the meantime, Hoffman joins a bullpen that includes other key late-inning options as the team looks to improve on their performance from last season.
The signing of Hoffman represents a shift in the reliever market and demonstrates Toronto’s commitment to strengthening their bullpen for the upcoming season.
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