Phillies news and rumors: Could a team sign Jeff Hoffman as a starter?

Could Jeff Hoffman be signed as a starter? (Grace Del Pizzo/Phillies Nation)

Right-hander Jeff Hoffman has found his footing as a standout reliever in his two years in Philadelphia. Maybe his next big step will come in a club’s starting rotation.

There’s “some industry buzz” around the major leagues that Hoffman, now a free agent, could interest potential teams as a starter this offseason rather than a reliever, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. He was a starting pitcher earlier in his nine-year career, but has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen the past two seasons.

Hoffman has been a tremendous success story since signing with the Phillies on a minor-league contract in 2023, establishing himself as a trusted high-leverage arm. He had a 2.28 ERA in 122 appearances the last two years with an All-Star nod in 2024. Hoffman has struggled in the postseason for Philadelphia, but he’s still been an extremely effective pitcher overall.

Due to Hoffman’s success and the value of a starting pitcher over a reliever, some clubs might at least ponder the idea of adding the 31-year-old to their rotation. As McDaniel noted, there are recent examples of these types of signings as Reynaldo Lopez and Jordan Hicks both transitioned from the bullpen into starters this past season.

Hoffman has struggled in the rotation in his career, making 50 starts with a 5.64 ERA in 237 2/3 innings. Perhaps he would fare better as a starter following the improvements he’s made recently. But the best bet is that Hoffman sticks in the bullpen and continues to pitch well in the role that he’s carved out, picking up important outs anywhere from the middle of the game to the ninth inning.

McDaniel projected Hoffman to receive a three-year, $48 million contract in free agency, a fairly hefty price for a reliever but fair considering his production. It remains to be seen whether or not the Phillies will be the team to land his services for 2025.

Hoffman and fellow reliever Carlos Estévez, who also struggled in October after a positive regular-season showing, were two key members of Philadelphia’s bullpen this year and are free agents. Phillies president Dave Dombrowski indicated at his end-of-season press conference that it would be unlikely for the team to retain both. Time will only tell which one might be back in red pinstripes or if the Phillies might pivot entirely for bullpen help.

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