The Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves backed out of agreements to sign Jeff Hoffman because of concerns about the reliever’s pitching shoulder before he finalized a $33 million, three-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays last week.

In a statement, Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Hoffman will get a chance to close games, the role that Jordan Romano filled for most of the last four seasons.

Jeff Hoffman signed with the Blue Jays, but before that, his deal with the Braves fell through when he failed his physical.

All-Star reliever and former Phillie Jeff Hoffman and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $33 million, three-year contract.

The Blue Jays landed free agent reliever Jeff Hoffman on Friday, signing a free agent after being linked in varying degrees to other names on the market.

Prior to signing with the Blue Jays, however, Hoffman reached a three-year, $40 million deal with the Orioles, but it fell through due to concerns with Hoffman’s physical, per MLB insider Robert Murray. Hoffman, 32, had his best MLB season with the Phillies in 2024, emerging as one of the league’s top bullpen arms.

The Toronto Blue Jays are officially taking a big risk with free agent reliever Jeff Hoffman. The hard-throwing reliever, who may end up serving as the Blue Ja

Hoffman went 3-3 with a 2.17 ERA and 10 saves last season for the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies, earning his first All-Star selection in July.

Jeff Hoffman is returning to the team that drafted him. Hoffman has rejoined the Toronto Blue Jays on a three-year contract worth $33 million, the team announced Friday night. There had been rumblings Hoffman would look for opportunities to start next season,

Hoffman logged a 2.28 ERA in 118 2/3 innings over the past two seasons with the Phillies. But there were some cracks in the biggest moments.