Jeff Hoffman signed a three-year, $33MM contract with the Blue Jays this evening. The righty nearly landed with a division rival. Robert Murray of FanSided reports that Hoffman and the Orioles had agreed to terms on a three-year, $40MM contract earlier this week. According to Murray, Baltimore pulled out of the deal after the physical revealed something related to his throwing shoulder that concerned the organization.
Teams have different standards for the injury risk that they’re willing to tolerate on prospective signings or trade acquisitions. The Orioles have a reputation for being particularly attentive to the physical. The O’s backed out of agreements with Grant Balfour and Tyler Colvin, respectively, in 2013 and ’14. They restructured their agreement with Yovani Gallardo during the 2015-16 offseason because of concerns about his shoulder. Those situations all predated the hiring of general manager Mike Elias and the franchise’s sale to owner David Rubenstein. This could certainly be coincidental.
Hoffman has not spent any time on the injured list over the last two years. He missed a good portion of the second half of 2022 because of a forearm issue. Hoffman did miss around two months in 2021 due to a shoulder impingement. He was sidelined between May 27 and July 21 that season. The injury did not require surgery.
Other teams have failed free agent physicals, of course. The most famous instance was when the Giants and Mets each pulled out of agreements with Carlos Correa because of concerns about his ankle during the 2021-22 offseason. The Yankees reportedly pulled out of a deadline trade to acquire Jack Flaherty from the Tigers last summer because of concerns about his back. That’s not a direct parallel, as the Yanks had issues with Flaherty’s medical records rather than conducting their own physical.
The Flaherty situation illustrates that different clubs’ medical departments could have diverging opinions on a player’s health. The Dodgers traded for the righty within hours of the Yankees deal falling through. (Flaherty stayed healthy for the stretch run with Los Angeles.) Hoffman’s physical wound up costing him $7MM in guaranteed money, though he can earn up to $6MM back via innings-based incentives. It’s not clear whether his agreement with Baltimore would have included any performance bonuses.
Baltimore quickly pivoted to their next bullpen target. The O’s agreed to a one-year, $10MM deal with righty Andrew Kittredge last night. He’ll join Yennier Cano, Seranthony Domínguez and Keegan Akin in front of closer Félix Bautista, who is returning from 2023 Tommy John surgery.
Kill joys.
Honestly I’d rather get Kittredge for 1/10 then Hoffman 3/40 if you’re a team with payroll constraints like Baltimore
The Orioles owner bought a copy of the Magna Carta for fun. Why would they have payroll constraints?
Rubinstein bought the Magna Carta so it wouldn’t leave the U.S and has it loaned out to the National Archives in DC.
Bird bath battle
ROFL!!! Bird bath battle!
Of course….f’n jays
I thought it was interesting they got him for a reasonable price.
maybe because he’s got health issues?
Baltimore helping Rogers Communications save a few bucks. Peace offering to the Canadians before the tariffs tank their GDP. Orioles medical staff going to win the Roberto Clemente award next year for services to our northern neighbors.
What an amazingly dumb comment.
Lol at MacGrommit thinking tariffs are going to tank Canada’s GDP. Any idiot who thinks American consumers aren’t going to foot the bill for all those tariffs deserves to be penniless.
I heard Greenland offered to build a stadium for the Rays
oops
Ah, THAT’S how Toronto was able to finally sign someone! I thought there might be something..
He had to flee the country.
Toronto’s hit on a new market inefficiency. Guys who won’t be able to play.
Would you rather have Correa or Adames with their current contracts?
Correa has a higher-ceiling and the Twins have their first team option to show him the door before he turns 34. If he vests, he’s earned it.
Lindor!
As a Jays fan this revelation is uh, not good.
They’ll probably stretch him out to start now.
It’s already been stated they want him to close
You missed the sarcasm.
Even I feel sorry for them.
It’s actually no good, eh
It’s not good, but a 3 year deal is not going to cripple them.
Orioles are tracking. They are not the team this season
I’ll take that bet
Oh now things make more sense.
My man got Correa’d
Makes me wonder if that is the reason the Phillies let him walk.
Good. His career ERA sucks.
5 years in Colorado will do that to you.
lol……as a starter sure…..in the last 2 years he just happens to be an elite reliever…..can’t wait for the orioles to get passed by the jays this year. …. Love that Baltimore is moving the fences back in to appease babies like Henderson, while hosting one of the worst pitching staffs in the league….its gonna be good
Glad we’re moving in left field for a left handed hitter like Gunnar lol you know nothing
Anyone named Gunner……leaves me questioning their make up…..but you do you…..let’s have some fun this year as the O’s and Rays content for the biggest disappointment.
Well, his name is Gunnar, not Gunner. And that’s his given name, so regarding his make up, it should tell you that… you think too much about people using their given names.
BetterMoron
that sounds like a problem with you not them, anyone judging someone based solely on their name is an idiot
Mountcastle should benefit the most
Ah this old excuse again.
Don’t the Orioles have a (past) track record of doing this with free agents?
Yes, and they were right. Passed on Grant Balfour back in ‘13 and he was released by Tampa two years later after getting dunked on.
I think it’s worth pointing out that Balfour had no issues with the knee and wrist which is why they backed out of that offer. It could have impacted his performance, but the fact that he pitched poorly in Tampa doesn’t mean they were “right” in their diagnosis.
Yes and they’ve been right too.
I think the organization still has PTSD from the Glenn Davis trade
Big Baby?
Balfour…cut by the Rays after posting an ERA over 6.
Tyler Colvin…never saw the majors again; played Indy ball.
Angel Pagan…never played in the majors again.
They haven’t been wrong. For Hoffman’s sake, I hope he proves the O’s wrong, especially with all of the hype he had when drafted.
Gausman….?
Gausman was traded to ATL. He wasn’t a FA and it had nothing to do with medicals. You may want to consult a medical professional regarding the thickness of your skull.
Gausman wasn’t a physical issue, BetterMoron
Can’t we all just get along?
Tyler Colvin from right here in North Augusta. SC
Different ownership/front office
@RedFraggle
Don’t confuse them with facts. Facts don’t matter to the unreasonable.
Always find it interesting we don’t really hear about a player until he signs, then we immediately get other news.
How does the baltimore news come out so soon after the Toronto signing
Likely held due to respect for the player’s free agent process.
There would a union grievance if a team released that before the player signed. And that team would look like garbage to free agents. Just like how a player doesn’t talk about a teams disrespectful offer until months or years after they sign.
They’re not carnival personnel!
Every house gets inspected before it’s sold. Buyer beware.
Not in the current real-estate market!
If the Orioles were willing to spend on him, and I’m glad they were, they need to keep going after a high leverage reliever. They can’t just not spend that money now(they can, but it would majorly suck), and their bullpen needs it.
The Orioles need HITTING! The Orioles faded last year because they stopped HITTING! Victims of several freshman-sophomore-junior jinxes in the second half. Adley, Holliday, Westburg, Cowser had multiple months hitting .235 or FAR below. O’Neil will not replace Santander’s offense. Orioles need offense, ATP. Bautista, Kittredge, Seranthony, Cano, Soto and the occasional 6th starter out of the ‘pen, will have to do.
You know they’re allowed to improve both, right?
So, it’ll be a 2 year 33M deal. Nope, not desperation, more like flailing.
Not necessarily. Shoulder issues aren’t as easily fixed as elbow issues. There’s no comparable surgery fix for shoulder injuries like TJ surgery for elbows.
Orioles medical staff has been on the money with these concerns in the past.
Hoffman won’t make it 2 games into spring training
Are you willing to take a wager on that?
BetterMoron is a troll
Now take that 3/40 and lure Tanner Scott back into the fold.
Probably have to double both the years and the money for Scott. Not sure Baltimore will pay 6/80 for Scott. They seem to be keeping everything short term so they can keep the books free to extend their young core.
More like 5/75 as a start point or as high as 5/90-100. Keep dreaming dude
You’re right. That’s actually way more realistic. But my 2nd point still stands
That’s insane money for Tanner Scott. O’s don’t need another lefty and Elias already dealt the guy away once.
Loljays
I see the new owner is as much of an ahole as the last one.
I’m not following. Illuminate us all.
What a stupid comment
Found Jeff Hoffman’s burner
Orioles deem him not worth the risk. Always criticize the organization that declined finalizing the deal based upon what the medical results are. Given the huge dollars any and all teams are paying MLB talent, it is a fundamentally sound business decision. MLB contracts are guaranteed and any team is on the hook with they sign a contract. Orioles will never forget the Nolan Reimold disaster.
Ooff!
Fear not, Jays fans. The O’s do this to actually not spend as much, but say, “hey we were trying, but medicals!”
Hoffman will be fine.
Stupid comment.
All ya got, huh, pal?
Congrats on not realizing the Orioles are under new ownership and are operating with a different front office than ones who previously nixed deals due to physicals. That was in the article BTW, so congrats on being able to write without being able to read.
Congratulations on assuming I didn’t read the article. Which I did, and of course I know full well about the O’s ownership, but who’s to say the philosophy didn’t carry through? What have the O’s done to change to perception? Congratulations on your gullibility I guess?
O’s generally haven’t been wrong about medicals. But keep acting like a condescending pompous d0uch3.
Ownership change don’t change the front office philosophy or the medical procedures in that short order. Those are things developed over years.
I was just having fun, you guys are ones attacking lol.
I can only remember 4 other times they did this, but each time the Orioles medical staff was right about the injury.
Blue Jays ain’t afraid of no physicals!
The Orioles doctors are the most strict docs in MLB when it comes to physicals, however they usually are correct.
All the players they flagged eventually went down to injury. I would be surprised if Hoffman lasts the 3 years without breaking down at one point.
Honestly I just hope Hoffman goes out there and proves my O’s wrong. As noted in the article we’ve had our share of backing out of contracts based on physicals, justified in hindsight or not. But after the injuries we’ve had in the last year or two you really can’t blame them for being extra cautious.
The kind of money teams have to throw around these days, I don’t blame anyone going over physicals with a fine tooth comb…or stethoscope. In fact, I would expect it.
I’m assuming the Jays did a physical as well, but didn’t see as big a problem as the O’s did. Guess we’ll see. As an older Jays fan I remember the nightmare David Wells for Mike SIrotka deal back in the 2000/2001 offseason. A 20 game winner for a guy who looked damn good at the time, but he never threw even a spring training pitch for the Jays. I figure he was the last straw for Gord Ash’s career as a GM. Guessing Ash was counting on the league overturning the trade if the guy was hurt, but they didn’t.
It seems like each of the 5 or 6 times that the Orioles have done this over the years, the player flopped when he signed elsewhere.
The Os docs are never wrong
I don’t understand how the cap works in the NFL. So if Geno Smith has a 2025 salary of 25 mill why is the “cap hit” something like 43 million?? So confusing