Oct 6, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) enters the game in the ninth inning against the New York Mets during game two of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
NEW YORK — If that was the last of Jeff Hoffman in a Phillies uniform, it was a pretty brutal ending to what had been one of baseball's best stories over the last two years.
Hoffman was charged with six earned runs across 1 1/3 innings pitched over three appears during an NLDS series that ended with the Phillies being upset by the Mets in four games. Hoffman and other key members of the bullpen weren't the only parties who deserve blame, but they certainly are at the forefront.
After the season-ending loss at Citi Field Wednesday night, Hoffman was asked to reflect on his 2024 campaign, which saw him make an All-Star Game appearance but struggle down the stretch in his contract year.
"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."
In totality, Hoffman was one of the best relievers in baseball in 2024, posting a 2.17 ERA across 68 games for the Phillies. According to FanGraphs, only five relievers in baseball topped the 2.1 WAR that Hoffman posted this year.
However, there were some pretty drastic splits between the first and second half of the season.
First Half: 1.12 ERA, two home runs allowed across 40 1/3 innings pitched
Second Half: 3.81 ERA, four home runs allowed across 26 innings pitched
Still, unless this postseason was enough to convince president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski to make a major trade for a reliever like Devin Williams or Ryan Helsley — neither of whom have perfect postseason resumes themselves — it's hard to imagine a scenario where the Phillies bullpen isn't worse in 2025 without Hoffman.
Across 122 games for the Phillies during the last two seasons, Hoffman has posted a 2.28 ERA and 2.54 FIP. Just about any way you slice it, he's been one of the best relievers in baseball over that period.
Jeff Hoffman: “Yeah, it sucks. All-Star wasn’t one of my goals, World Series was.” @PhilliesNation @OnPattison pic.twitter.com/K5aMhQVg9L
Hoffman will turn 32 in January, so it will be interesting to see what type of contract he gets, assuming he hits the open market. The Phillies almost certainly will not extend a qualifying offer to him, with that reportedly set to be worth $21.2 million. So he should do well, and could reasonably expect to land a three-year deal.
In a conversation about his future with On Pattison in September, Hoffman expressed a desire to remain with the Phillies beyond 2024. Having previously spent time with two of the more dysfunctional franchises in baseball — the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds — Hoffman has made clear he wants to pitch for a contender. The Phillies, though, will probably not be the only component organization interested in Hoffman in free agency.
Hoffman's story of coming to the Phillies organization following previously being labeled a first-round bust as a starter and becoming a dominant reliever after showing out pitching to a rehabbing Bryce Harper during a sim game early in the 2023 season was a storybook one. Does it have another chapter with the Phillies?
