Stories emerged again in December that the Phillies had curiosity in re-signing free agent reliever Jeff Hoffman, earlier than Hoffman finally landed with the Blue Jays on a three-year, $33MM contract. Phils president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski confirmed the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber and different reporters this week that the membership certainly had curiosity in a reunion with the All-Star, and “very aggressively” made a proposal seemingly in vary of Toronto’s provide early within the season.
“I can’t inform you that the quantity he ended up signing for was considerably totally different than the one which we ended up providing him,” Dombrowski mentioned. “However he wasn’t ready to take that at the moment. [Hoffman’s agents] simply thought they have been going to get far more.”
Hoffman technically did land extra in two different presents — a three-year, $40MM settlement with the Orioles, after which a five-year cope with the Braves within the $45MM-48MM vary that might’ve introduced the righty extra in total worth, if not common annual worth. Nevertheless, Baltimore and Atlanta each walked away from these offers resulting from misgivings over Hoffman’s medicals. The Braves’ situation wasn’t made public, however the Orioles had a priority over Hoffman’s proper shoulder. Notably, the O’s weren’t troubled sufficient to desert their pursuit of Hoffman solely, and made a brand new provide after taking their $40MM provide off the desk.
As all of this was happening in early January, the Phillies didn’t re-engage in Hoffman’s market, Lauber writes. It didn’t seem like out of damage concern, however somewhat that the Phillies had seemingly simply moved on to a different late-game bullpen possibility. A month earlier, the Phils as an alternative signed Jordan Romano to a one-year, $8.5MM deal, in what turned an unofficial swap of closers between the Phillies and Blue Jays. Dombrowski indicated on the finish of final season and once more this week that Philadelphia would solely be re-signing one at most of Hoffman and Carlos Estevez, and the crew ended up going with Romano over both of the free agent duo.
“We simply moved off [Hoffman] and did Romano as a result of we thought [Orion] Kerkering was able to step up and, I don’t wish to say tackle extra as a result of his function has been essential, however pitch extra on the again and excessive leverage,” Dombrowski informed Lauber and firm this week.
Whereas we’re solely a month into the 2025 season, the early returns on the Phillies’ choice haven’t been promising. Philadelphia is close to the underside of the league in bullpen ERA, even regardless of excellent numbers posted by nearer Jose Alvarado and set-up man Matt Strahm. Alvarado has shortly assumed nearer duties since Romano has struggled to a 13.50 ERA in his first 9 1/3 innings as a Phillie, and Kerkering additionally has a 5.79 ERA in 9 1/3 frames of labor this yr. Since we’re nonetheless coping with small pattern sizes right here, it’s value noting that the majority of Kerkering’s harm befell in two tough outings this previous week, although Romano has already allowed a number of runs over 4 of his outings.
Hoffman, in the meantime, has excelled within the first full-time closing project of his 10 MLB seasons. The proper-hander is an ideal 6-for-6 in save adjustments and has a 1.35 ERA over 13 1/3 innings for Toronto, with an eye-opening 39.6% strikeout fee and a couple of.1% stroll fee. Even with the caveats of a 92.1% strand fee and a .259 BABIP, Hoffman’s 1.16 SIERA is even decrease than his already unimaginable ERA, additional enhancing simply how dominant Hoffman has been this yr.
Ought to he preserve pitching at wherever close to this degree, Hoffman’s efficiency might result in some second-guessing in Baltimore, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. Turning to the Phillies particularly, Lauber feels the crew will once more discover itself having to amass some vital bullpen assist earlier than the commerce deadline, maybe with a selected goal of bettering the aid corps’ strikeout numbers.
