Blue Jays look to compete with Rays bullpen depth by signing 2024 All-Star
The Blue Jays hit the jackpot with the signing of 2024 All-Star reliever, Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman and the Toronto organization agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal to help bolster their relief pitching. Aside from their new addition, right-handers Chad Green and Erik Swanson are the other two reliable options out of their bullpen. With the incredible depth of the Rays and Yankees relief pitching, the Blue Jays made a respectable decision to try to compete with their rivals during the ever-important late innings.
Jeff Hoffman, Blue Jays have agreed to a three-year contract.
Before signing with the Toronto Blue Jays, Hoffman supposedly received interest from multiple other clubs including the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves. In fact, the Orioles were very close to completing a deal with the former first round pick before the arrangement fell apart due to a scare on the pitcher’s physical. The Blue Jays were much less concerned, as they swooped in and snagged the New York native. Hoffman will be returning to the Blue Jays after he was drafted by the Canadian club with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft.
The hard-throwing righty broke out in the 2024 season just in time for his walk year. The Phillies saw a glimpse of this success in 2023 as well, but it all came to fruition last season. Hoffman posted an impressive 2.17 ERA in his 66.1 innings of work. The Philadelphia late-inning relief pitcher received his first All-Star game nod also, which definitely aided in his lucrative free agency deal.
However, the failed physicals prior to his three-year contract could be a concerning sign going into the marathon of an MLB season. The Orioles found worrisome results linked to the shoulder of his throwing arm. Baltimore dodged the risky contract to sign former Rays reliever, Andrew Kittredge to a one-year deal instead. Hopefully, nothing comes up during the season for the newly acquired Blue Jays reliever though.
With this new addition, the Blue Jays bullpen definitely looks more adequate, but the Yankees and Rays are still far ahead of the Toronto club in terms of reliever depth. The Yankees recently signed nasty relievers, Devin Williams and Fernando Cruz to bolster an already loaded bullpen.
The Rays, on the other hand, added former Mets relief pitcher, Eric Orze and Rule 5 pitchers, Mike Vasil and Nate Lavender. After a very successful finish for Rays relievers, Edwin Uceta, Manuel Rodriguez, and Mason Montgomery in 2024, the sky is the limit for the Tampa Bay pen. Therefore, the Blue Jays will likely need to add a few more talented pitchers to their relief core to compete with their AL East rivals.
