Free Agent Profile: Jeff Hoffman, RP

Jeff Hoffman, RP

Position: RP B/T: R/R
Age: 31 (01/08/1993)

2024 Traditional Stats: 68 G, 66 1/3 IP, 2.17 ERA, 0.965 WHIP, 3-3, 89 SO, 16 BB
2024 Advanced Stats: 188 ERA+, 33.6 K%, 6.0 BB%, 2.17 xERA, 2.52 FIP, 2.80 xFIP, 2.0 fWAR, 2.0 bWAR

Rundown

Jeff Hoffman, 31, has traveled an unusual path to becoming one of the top relievers in the league. Drafted with the ninth pick in the 2014 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, Hoffman would make his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies as a starter in 2016. After a few years with Colorado with limited success, Hoffman latched on with the Cincinnati Reds in 2021 and in 2022 pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen with much better results. The Philadelphia Phillies signed him in 2023 and he would prove to become an important cog in their bullpen.

The 2024 season was the best of Hoffman’s career, seeing him pitch to a 2.17 ERA striking out 89 batters over 66 1/3 innings with 10 saves and earning a spot in the All-Star Game. Hoffman was outstanding at limiting hits and walks as shown by his 0.965 WHIP. His career-high 33.6% strikeout rate helped mitigate his highest hard-hit rate since the 2020 season.

Hoffman has a great four-pitch mix, throwing his slider and four-seamer almost equally at around 40% each. His slider generates an absurd 45.2% Whiff rate and batters only hit .198 against it. He compliments his two primary offerings with a split-fingered fastball he almost exclusively throws to lefties and a sinker which he does the same with, but only to right-handers. None of Hoffman’s offerings have allowed higher than a .204 average or a .369 SLG%, which evidences the fact he not only strikes batters out but generates weak contact more often than not. While his slider was virtually unhittable in 2023, in 2024 he lost one MPH on it but with more glove-side run.

Contract

Based on his success in the NL East and some teams viewing him as a starting pitcher, Hoffman could be looking at a three to four-year contract with an AAV north of $10 million dollars. MLB Trade Rumors projects him to sign a four-year deal worth $44 million. Since the reliever market has yet to heat up, it is hard to gauge exactly what teams will be willing to pay for high-end relievers with closing experience.

Recommendation

Hoffman is a very intriguing pitcher with some great peripherals and a solid pitch mix. However, Hoffman was projected to receive a four-year, $44 million dollar contract by MLB Trade Rumors which may put him out of the Mets price range. While it is unknown if the Mets view him as strictly a bullpen option or were one of the teams views him as a possible starting rotation option is to be seen. David Stearns has yet to show he will commit big money to the bullpen and for years built successful bullpens with the Brewers on reclamation projects and prospects from within the organization. If he were to try his hand at the high-end bullpen market, Hoffman is arguably the best right-handed option he could go after.

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