Jun 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports Eric Hartline
After a pair of successful seasons with the Phillies, Jeff Hoffman is a free agent with options.
Less than two years after nearly heading to Japan to continue his baseball career, Hoffman has a chance to cash in during free agency. Over on Bleacher Report, I ranked Hoffman as the 17th-best free agent in this year's class. Only Tanner Scott — No. 12 — ranked higher than him among relievers.
That is, if Hoffman is going to continue pitching out of the bullpen.
Earlier this month, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reported that "there is some industry buzz that Hoffman's pitch mix and history as a starting pitcher have some teams thinking he could be a reliever-to-starter free agent signing."
Tuesday, McDaniel published a wide-ranging interview with Hoffman that is worth your time. In it, Hoffman did discuss the possibility of being a starting pitcher again, as he was earlier in his career with the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds.
"I think I would be a great starter if given that opportunity again," Hoffman said. "It was cool seeing what [Reynaldo Lopez and Jordan Hicks] did last year and, for me with how healthy I am and what I've done the last few years with my arsenal, it's an interesting thought. ... It makes sense that guys with deeper arsenals than most relievers have found success."
"Until it got brought back up [by interested teams], I assumed that ship had sailed. ... It would be totally different than the first go round. I feel like I'm 24 years old again. ... I'm moving the way I'm supposed to now. I view [starting] as a great challenge. I'm as healthy as I've ever been. I would welcome the opportunity. ... I love pitching out of the bullpen and late in games, too."
Hoffman went on to add this.
"All things being equal, I want to get the last out."
Of course, you can technically get the last out as a starter if you pitch a complete game. Obviously, that's increasingly rare in today's game, though. Even if Hoffman was pitching well as a starter in 2025, he would likely have an innings limit given that he pitched a total of 66 1/3 frames as a reliever in 2024.
So if he wants to get the last out in games on a regular basis, it will have to come as a reliever. If he wants to return to the Phillies, it will almost certainly have to be as a reliever. And he's made clear, he wants to return to the Phillies.
Not only did Hoffman talk in McDaniel's piece about how much he enjoys pitching in front of crowds at Citizens Bank Park, but he spoke at length to On Pattison in September about his hopes to remain a Phillie beyond the 2024 campaign. In the moments after the Phillies were eliminated by the New York Mets in the NLDS, Hoffman reiterated his desire to return.
"Yeah, it sucks," Hoffman said. "All-Star wasn't one of my goals. Winning a World Series was. So, back to the drawing board. I hope I'm back here next year with the same group and get another crack at it."
Jeff Hoffman: “Yeah, it sucks. All-Star wasn’t one of my goals, World Series was.” @PhilliesNation @OnPattison pic.twitter.com/K5aMhQVg9L
Listening to Hoffman, you get the sense that it's not just lip service when he talks about how much he's enjoyed pitching for the Phillies. He's seen what it's like to pitch for two of the lesser franchises in the sport in the Rockies and Reds. He much prefers what he's gotten to do the last two seasons with the Phillies, where he's posted a 2.28 ERA across 122 relief appearances.
The question then becomes, will all things be equal this winter?
On B/R, I projected Hoffman would land a three-year/$39 million deal in free agency. But the thought was that would be as a reliever. If he's a starter, could he got more years and/or a higher average annual value? Possibly.
These are decisions that Hoffman would have gladly signed up for a few years ago when his MLB career appeared to be on the ropes.
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