The Blue Jays and right-hander Adam Kloffenstein have agreed to a minor league deal, reports Ari Alexander of KPRC 2. The righty will also be in big league camp with the Jays as a non-roster invitee.
Kloffenstein, 24, returns to his original club. The Jays selected him in the third round of the 2018 draft. For the next few years, he was a somewhat notable prospect in Toronto’s system. Baseball America ranked him in the middle parts of the Blue Jays’ top 30 from 2019 to 2022. At the 2023 deadline, the Jays flipped him to the Cardinals as part of the Jordan Hicks trade.
The Cards added Kloffenstein to their 40-man roster last offseason to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. That allowed him to make his major league debut in 2024, though he tossed only one inning. His Triple-A numbers weren’t amazing on the year, as he allowed 4.74 earned runs per nine innings over his 17 starts. His 49% ground ball rate was strong but his 19.4% strikeout rate and 10.9% walk rate were both subpar.
After that uninspiring year, the Cards decided to move on. Kloffenstein was non-tendered in November, getting sent to free agency without being put on waivers. That allowed him to return to the Jays on this minor league pact.
From 2021 to 2023, Kloffenstein tossed 341 1/3 minor league innings, most of that with the Blue Jays. The results in that time were a bit better than in his 2024 season. His 4.85 ERA still wasn’t especially impressive but his 24% strikeout rate was significantly better than last year’s clip, with comparable amounts of walks and ground balls.
The Jays are plenty familiar with Kloffenstein from his time in the system, so perhaps they believe there’s a way to get him back on track after a challenging season. The Jays have Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and José Berríos locked into three rotation spots. Bowden Francis will probably get a chance to build off his strong finish in 2024. Guys like Yariel Rodríguez, Jake Bloss and Adam Macko are candidates for another spot. The Jays have been looking to upgrade that group this offseason and could push everyone down a peg but Kloffenstein gives them some non-roster depth alongside Eric Lauer. If Kloffenstein eventually gets a roster spot, he still has options and just a single day of service time.
Gettin KLOFFY widdit !
That might be the furthest thing from a pun I’ve ever seen.
Probably because it’s not intended to be one.
Jays are ruining baseball. Ruining it! Ahahahaha!
You forgot the Na na na na nanah
Hmmm what if we call him The Undertaker and every appearance he gets carried to the mound in a coffin, but everyone calls it The Kloffin?
welcome back. guess this is the summer of bringing guys drafted by the team back.
Latest Cardinals blunder
Headscratching to say the least….
Oh, please explain. I’d love to hear this.
So essentially the hicks trade cost us nothing. Only wish it got us further in the post season.
Good pick up , but shatkins is still in the negative column with the stupid moves he’s made or not making.
See Robberse is still a decent arm in the Cardinals system.
Sem
Kloffenstein didn’t get much of a chance. And they’re looking for bullpen help?
To me this fit to well to non tender him making the league minimum? What did they have to loose testing him in the bullpen verse adding a bullpen arm for a few million via free agency? Greg Holland says hi
Robberse had a mediocre AAA season too… but is a little younger.
Ross Atkins playing 3D chess
Ross Atkins can’t spell 3D.
Tidy piece of business. This organization has struggled with pitching depth. Don’t mind this at all.
After missing out on ohtani, soto, burnes, roki, and just about every FA available, blujays finally signed someone – congrats toronto no more complaints or whining from now on !
Show us on the doll where the Blue Jays hurt you
I believe the clients main symptom is boredom.
Most patients are cured with a productive and crazy offseason that involves massive spending and usually complaints one or two years down the road into an albatross contract that aging veteran signed during the spending spree
This is a good signing. No brainer. They know Adam and he hasn’t had enough Major League reps to know where he fits longterm. I suggest middle relief or emergency starter.
Scouteyez
He hasn’t had enough major league reps because he can’t get minor league hitters out.
Has Toronto officially announced the deal or was Kloffenstein spotted at the airport?
Why is the LOUSY GM shapiro and his lackie still here …..??
Get Out of Toronto !!!
Lackie oh man I thought John retired and went home!
From what I can recall Kloff’s pitches largely broke down and in to righties. Good arm but it seems his delivery limits his effectiveness and ability throw other pitches.
No mention of his shoulder injury? That was the driving factor behind the Cardinals’ non-tender — continuing shoulder discomfort.
The Blue Jays are very likely just wanting to watch over his rehab, and it might even be a two-year MiLB deal. Intriguing arm but currently damaged goods.
World Series confirmed.
the floundering FO strikes again. Nothing to see here. What’s a Jays fan to do?
Dodgers should have a banner year