Jeff Hoffman will pitch for the Minnesota Twins in 2027 after Toronto traded the faltering nearer for prospects on the deadline. However the Blue Jays will nonetheless pay $3.75 million of his wage. Toronto additionally owes a $1.7 million installment cost towards Hoffman’s signing bonus, in keeping with FanGraphs.
The 2 funds collectively whole roughly $5.42 million. That cash follows a better who gave up the tying dwelling run in Recreation 7 of the 2025 World Sequence, then spent 2026 making an attempt to climb out from beneath that catastrophe.
The Blue Jays agreed to cowl $3.75 million of his $11 million base wage for subsequent season, in keeping with Blue Jays Nation. The Twins decide up the remaining $7.25 million, in keeping with the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The Blue Jays took the Latham, New York, native ninth general in 2014, a first-round pick of East Carolina, then dealt him to Colorado the following summer season within the blockbuster deal that introduced Troy Tulowitzki north, in keeping with The Canadian Press.
Throughout 378 appearances for 4 golf equipment, Hoffman carried a 38-40 document and 50 saves into this 12 months’s deadline, together with a 4.69 ERA and 638 strikeouts.
The turnaround got here with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024, when he posted a 2.17 ERA in 68 appearances and made his first All-Star workforce. Toronto then gave him a three-year, $33 million contract.
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Blue Jays’ Jeff Hoffman Efficiency After World Sequence Recreation 7
In 2025, Hoffman led all MLB closers in video games completed with 59. He additionally collected 33 saves with a 4.37 ERA, then allowed two runs in 12 1/3 playoff innings, in keeping with Discipline Degree Media.
Then got here Recreation 7. With one out within the ninth and Toronto main 4-3, Miguel Rojas despatched a 3-2 slider 387 ft over the left area fence. The Blue Jays had owned a 91.3 p.c probability of profitable Recreation 7 earlier than that swing, in keeping with CBS Sports activities.
The Dodgers received 5-4 in 11 innings. “Was only one pitch. I value all people right here a World Sequence ring,” Hoffman stated after the sport, as quoted by Sports activities Illustrated.
Did he ever shake it? The outcomes say sure — ultimately. The nearer’s job didn’t come again earlier than he was traded.
Hoffman opened 2026 within the nearer’s position, however rapidly misplaced the job on April 24.
Louis Varland took over the position, in keeping with Sports activities Illustrated.
A 6.31 ERA in April and Could value Hoffman his nearer place, in keeping with BaseballHQ. He had blown 4 saves in 9 alternatives by July.
After June 1, although, Hoffman posted a 1.21 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 22 1/3 innings. He completed 2026 with a 3.55 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 66 innings for each golf equipment, earlier than a forearm damage ended his season Sept. 26.
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Why the Blue Jays Traded Jeff Hoffman and Nonetheless Pay Him
Toronto’s return was three prospects, headlined by Minnesota’s No. 7 prospect, Dasan Hill, in keeping with MLB.com. The Blue Jays additionally cashed in on Hoffman’s two-month scorching streak and the 12 months of membership management left on his contract.
Toronto accomplished 4 trades on deadline day.
“This isn’t the scenario we needed to be in, the place we’re parting methods with Jeff Hoffman. We’d have actually been happy to have Jeff Hoffman tonight and subsequent 12 months, however that return and the form of it made sense for us,” normal supervisor Ross Atkins stated after the commerce was accomplished.
So why is Toronto nonetheless paying? The Blue Jays used the identical gadget of their earlier Daulton Varsho commerce, and it helped Atkins command a greater return, in keeping with Blue Jays Nation.
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