Jeff Hoffman confirms Orioles, Atlanta pulled out of deals before Jays signed him

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

"The stuff they saw on the MRIs, whatever they saw was what their team docs were saying," he said Wednesday during the Blue Jays' introductory Zoom news conference. "Not any bit in line with the way I feel, though, so it's not something that I'm really concerned about or worried about."

A right-hander who turned 32 on Jan. 8, Hoffman went for in-person physicals for deals with the Orioles and Braves.

"All the flags, physical stuff, was as big a surprise to me as anybody," he said. "If you can check my kind of track record over the past few seasons, I've been as healthy as anybody. It's a non-issue for me. It's just something that they wanted to bring up and the Blue Jays see me for what I am. So, I'd rather be in a place like that anyways."

Atlanta spokesman Jared Burleyson and Orioles spokeswoman Jackie Harig said their teams declined to comment.

Toronto gave Hoffman a deal that included a $5 million signing bonus and salaries of $6 million this year and $11 million in each of the following two seasons. He can earn up to $2 million annually in performance bonuses for innings pitched: $500,000 each for 60, 70, 80 and 90.

"When the team docs got their hands on me and everything for the actual physical orthopedic exam there was really nothing to worry about," Hoffman said. "My body's moving great, range of motion, everything is normal for me and it's as it would be midseason."

Hoffman was last on the injured list in 2022 with Cincinnati, when he didn't pitch after July 23 because of