Jeff Hoffman is thrilled to be a member of the Toronto Blue Jays — again.
The team’s new closer met with the media Wednesday afternoon to discuss his recent three-year $33-million deal — almost a decade after he was traded for Troy Tulowitzki.
His acquisition, however, was met with reports that he failed physicals with both the Baltimore Orioles and the Atlanta Braves before signing with the Jays.
“The ball's in their court on that kind of stuff,” said the 2014 ninth-overall pick, when asked about the reports. “It was as big of a surprise to me as anybody. … (Injuries) are a non-issue for me.”
Hoffman stated both teams offered in-person physicals but it was the MRIs that caused the two clubs to back away.
Toronto's doctors, who have been in contact with Hoffman since the start of the off-season, saw things differently, apparently.
“We’re really excited that Toronto was in it from the beginning and kept contact throughout the whole process,” Hoffman said.
When asked if toeing the rubber against his new divisional rivals in Baltimore would have more meaning after how things unfolded, Hoffman didn't hold back.
“We can add them to the list, for sure," he said. "Something I enjoy is finding those edges, and when you go through something like this, there is a little bit of a chip that comes with it."
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