Morning Rundown: Jeff Hoffman signs with Toronto, Cubs sign Colin Rea, Roansy Contreras to Baltimore
A pair of pitchers sign with new teams, Contreras finds a new home
The Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent right-handed pitcher Jeff Hoffman to a three-year contract worth $33 million, heading back to the team that drafted him ninth overall in 2014.
Hoffman, 31, went 3-3 with 10 saves in 2024, posting a 2.17 ERA and striking out 89 batters in 66.1 innings pitched.
There was talk of him getting a chance to start, which wouldn’t be something completely new for him. He has made double-digit starts in the majors on three different occasions.
It was also reported that Hoffman originally agreed on a three-year, $40 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, who backed out after finding something in his physical.
The Blue Jays then jumped in and signed him.
The Chicago Cubs added another pitcher to the mix, signing Colin Rea to a two-year contract, with 2026 being a team option. The first year will pay him $4.25 million, and it comes with a $750,000 buyout.
The second year will be worth a reported $6 million.
Rea will remain in the NL Central after pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. He went 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA in 167.2 innings pitched with Milwaukee.
The busy offseason for former Pirates pitching prospect Roansy Contreras continues, as he was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
After being traded to the Angels after getting DFAd by the Pirates, Contreras was put on waivers again in October, being claimed by the Texas Rangers. He went to the Reds later on and eventually to Baltimore after being put on waivers once again.
A former top-100 prospect for the Pirates, acquired in the Jameson Taillon trade, Contreras had a solid rookie season in 2022 but could never build off that. He was out of options heading into 2024 and was DFAd after pitching 12 games for the Pirates.
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BA describes Darrell Morel as a 6’5” LHH with big power potential.
The underlying point of the article is that this is the start of some Sasaki-related craziness. Could be a much less sedate Jan. 15th than usual.
Interesting development in that it doused my flickering hope that we were in on Sasaki (surely he'd want to pitch with Skenes, right?):
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/pirates-to-sign-dodgers-committed-intl-prospect-darell-morel.html
It also makes me a bit concerned that at this late date we still have $1.8MM left to spend on a player that is not considered elite (according to MLB Pipeline), but maybe that's the result (or cause of) the change in international scouting leadership.