The biggest recent Braves news has been the interest and subsequent failed physical of Jeff Hoffman.
Mark Bowman reported that the two sides had a deal in place, but a flagged physical led to Hoffman eventually signing with the Blue Jays. The Braves beat reporter then went on to say the deal was for five years and nearly $50 million.
“A source said the Braves had a potential deal that was nixed when Jeff Hoffman failed his physical,” Bowman writes.” Hoffman also reportedly failed a physical with the Orioles before signing a three-year, $33 million deal with the Blue Jays.
Another source said the Braves deal with Hoffman would have been a five-year deal worth $45-48 million. The right-hander could have been given a chance to start before spending his final years of the deal as a reliever.”
The concerns were over Hoffman’s shoulder, but the veteran reliever spoke with the Toronto media on Wednesday about the entire situation, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet:
“Speaking to Toronto media on a conference call, Jeff Hoffman said he feels fully healthy & considers his shoulder a non-issue. ‘It’s not something I’m concerned about,’ Hoffman said. Hoffman says he had in-person physicals with BAL & ATL. After MRIs, those teams decided to back away.”
I mean, what else is Hoffman supposed to say? He’s coming off an All-Star campaign in 2024 with the Phillies, posting a 2.17 ERA over 68 appearances. Dating back to the start of the 2023 season, Hoffman has recorded a 2.28 ERA and 2.54 FIP over 118.2 innings.
The Braves were reportedly interested in trying Jeff Hoffman out as a starter, much like Reynaldo Lopez, which turned out to be one of the best free agent acquisitions of the entire offseason last year. Shoulder issues are tricky, unlike elbows, which can easily be fixed under the knife.
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Photographer: Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire
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