Although it’s rare, free agents sometimes fail one team’s physical examination but not another’s.
Ex-Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jeff Hoffman reportedly failed physicals with two different teams as a free agent this offseason before signing with the Toronto Blue Jays last week.
Last Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided reported Baltimore “flagged Hoffman’s physical — two sources say it was his right shoulder — and ultimately signed right-hander Andrew Kittredge to a one-year, $10 million contract.”
On Monday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reported the Atlanta Braves had a potential deal that was nixed when Hoffman failed a physical with the Braves’ medical staff.
Friday, the Jays announced they signed Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million contract that has the potential to grow to $39 million with incentives.
Perhaps ironically, Hoffman never went on the injured list after signing a minor league contract with the Phillies in March 2023. He was both durable and effective during his two seasons in Philadelphia, going 5-2 with a 2.41 ERA in 54 games in 2023, and 3-3 with a 2.17 ERA in 68 games last year.
There is a somewhat complicating factor in the free agency of Hoffman, who began his major league career in Colorado as a starting pitcher before reinventing himself as a reliever in Cincinnati.
Multiple teams were reportedly interested in signing Hoffman as a starting pitcher. A year ago the Braves signed Reynaldo Lopez — who relieved almost exclusively for the White Sox, Angels, and Guardians from 2022-23 — and stuck him in their starting rotation.
