May 5, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) reacts against the San Francisco Giants in the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports Kyle Ross
From an individual sense, Jeff Hoffman is having a perfect contract season. But the Phillies reliever wasn't ready to evaluate his season when asked by On Pattison this past weekend.
"I want to win a World Series, so I think I'll have a better answer for that question here in the next couple months," Hoffman said.
Hoffman was a first-time All-Star in 2024. Across 60 appearances this season, Hoffman has a 1.82 ERA, 2.47 FIP and 0.96 WHIP. His 2.0 WAR is fourth among all qualified relievers. He's set up to make out extremely well on the open market this offseason.
Most players in free-agent years deflect questions about their future. Whether it's true or not, they'll say that they're only worried about the present. Hoffman, though, admitted that with two sons, he absolutely has thought about his future. And he hopes it's in Philadelphia.
"Well, from a family perspective, I think about it a lot," Hoffman admitted. "Just where my kids are gonna live next year and where they're gonna go to school and stuff like that.
"I want it to be here — I love it here," Hoffman continued. "The Phillies have been amazing to me, giving me the opportunity that they did, and I kind of took it and ran with it. And I feel like this is my family, all these guys in here ... bringing back pretty much the same band that we had last year ... making it that much tighter, that much more tight-knit. It feels like home."
By now, Hoffman's story has been told ad nauseam. He was so impressive pitching to a rehabbing Bryce Harper in a live batting practice session that the Phillies chose to promote him to the majors last May when he had planned to opt-out of his minor league deal. They did that despite him having a 7.00 ERA in nine appearances at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. As it turned out, the Phillies uncovered a diamond in the rough. Hoffman has a minuscule 2.11 ERA in 115 appearances since being called up by the Phillies. The only relievers in baseball over that period with a higher WAR than his 3.4 mark are Tanner Scott (4.2) and Emmanuel Clase (3.6).
Hoffman, though, has seen the difference between being part of a high-functioning organization and ones that are, well, not on that level. He was a first-round draft pick by the Colorado Rockies in the 2014 MLB Draft. He posted a 6.40 ERA across 68 games — 38 of which were starts — over parts of five seasons with the Rockies. Then in 66 games, the bulk of which were relief appearances, with the Cincinnati Reds, he posted a 4.28 ERA. Granted, Coors Field and Great American Ballpark are probably the two worst parks to pitch in. Hoffman also didn't yet throw this wipeout version of his slider when he was with the Rockies or Reds. But his experience pitching for two less-than franchises and then finding success with the Phillies will be a consideration if he reaches the open market.
"It factors a lot," Hoffman acknowledged. "Everywhere you go, you kind of trying to keep your eyes and ears open. You know people who have played other places. Baseball is a really small community, so I have friends and close friends that have played pretty much everywhere.
"So yeah, I mean, you've seen the other side," Hoffman added. "You see what it's like on the other side, and then you get to a place like this that runs pretty smoothly, and it's nice. You want to be in a place like this."
Jeff Hoffman, Wicked 89mph Slider. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/QyFtUd6Ugw
Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported last week that MLB's qualifying offer will be $21.2 million this offseason. That's a no-brainer to give to impending free agents like Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes and Pete Alonso. It seems like a high number to give to a reliever when Edwin Díaz currently has the highest average annual value among relievers at $20.4 million. But there could be a strategy in extending the offer to him anyway. If he accepts it, it's a really high price, but only for a season. He may very well decline it in search of more total money, and if that comes elsewhere, the Phillies would get draft compensation in return. Having the qualifying offer attached to him might turn off other interested suitors, and make it more likely he returns to the Phillies — who wouldn't have to give up draft picks — in free agency.
The Phillies will have to weigh how many more major investments they want to make when considering Hoffman's future. They already have $224.7 million in financial commitments for 2025, the most in baseball. Ranger Suárez, J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber can become free agents after the 2025 season. Some tough decisions will likely have to be made. But the Phillies will unquestionably be a worse team next season if Hoffman is elsewhere.
Hoffman has recorded 10 saves this year, but has never been the closer. In fact, since the Phillies acquired Carlos Estévez from the Los Angeles Angels, he's been the de-facto closer. Hoffman has been in more of a set-up role. He says winning is what matters to him.
"No, I mean, if we're in a scenario where there's a save being given out, it means we're winning the game," Hoffman said. "So, that's all that matters to me."
So if one team offers him a chance to be the primary closer and the Phillies want him back in his current role, Hoffman won't favor the club willing to commit to him in the ninth inning?
"Yeah, I mean, that will be a conversation for if that ever is something that has to be chosen between," Hoffman said. "But my main priority is being in a place that we're going to win baseball games."
