Jeff Hoffman shoulders bullpen collapse in the NLDS, will enter free agency as one of the best arms on the market

If Jeff Hoffman’s time with the Phillies is over, it sure didn’t end the way anyone would have hoped for a reliever who had become one of baseball’s best over the past two seasons.

Hoffman was roughed up in the NLDS, giving up six earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings across three appearances, as the Phillies were embarrassingly knocked out of “Red October” by the New York Mets in four games.

To be very clear: Jeff Hoffman wasn’t alone in his struggles. The entire bullpen went through a complete meltdown that was painful to ignore but last night’s Game 4 loss will weigh heavy on Hoffman specifically because he was the guy on the mound as things unraveled for the Phillies.

When the phone rang in the Phillies bullpen during the second inning of Game 4 at Citi Field with the Phillies clinging onto a 1-0 lead over the Mets, I can almost guarantee that Jeff Hoffman didn’t expect to hear his name called.

Ranger Suárez had gotten himself into another bases-loaded jam for the second consecutive inning but the Phillies needed someone warming up, just in case they were forced to make an early switch on the mound.

Hoffman started throwing, but just like the first inning, Suárez managed to escape, becoming the first pitcher in playoff history to strand six runners in the first two innings.

When Suárez walked Pete Alonso to start the third, the bullpen phone rang again. Once more, Hoffman began to get loose, only to sit down after Suárez induced a double play to end the inning.

It wasn’t until the fifth inning, with Suárez’s pitch count rising and two more Mets on base, that Rob Thomson finally called on Hoffman.

Hoffman entered with the Phillies clinging to a 1-0 lead, and he delivered, ringing-up Alonso and inducing a weak grounder from José Iglesias, Hoffman preserved the lead and kept the Phillies alive, just 12 outs away from forcing a Game 5.

Jeff Hoffman Strands 2 in the 5th

Jeff Hoffman strands 2 as the @Phillies keep the Mets scoreless through 5 #NLDS pic.twitter.com/r2eN9ov9Jo

— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2024

Bryce Harper led off the bottom of the inning with a double, chasing Mets starter José Quintana. The Phillies started to show some life at the plate, but after two strikeouts and a walk, another pitching change by the Mets slowed things down.

As lefty David Peterson came on to face Bryson Stott, Hoffman sat on the bench, waiting to get back on the mound. And there was no backup plan from Thomson—no one else was warming up in the bullpen.

The Phillies’ rally fizzled out, and Hoffman was sent back out for the sixth, tasked with keeping the one-run lead intact. But it was clear right away that something was off. J.D. Martinez led off with a single, and Hoffman quickly lost command—throwing two wild pitches, hitting Starling Marte, and walking Tyrone Taylor to load the bases with no outs.

He managed to get one out on a force at home, but with Francisco Lindor looming, Thomson finally pulled the plug, bringing in Carlos Estévez. The rest, as they say, was history. Lindor’s big hit broke the game open, and the Phillies went on to lose 4-1, ending their season in four games against the Mets.

FRANCISCO LINDOR. GRAND SLAM. #NLDS pic.twitter.com/CdKuEVOfT3

— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2024

After the season-ending loss at Citi Field, Hoffman reflected on his 2024 season—one that saw him make his first All-Star appearance but struggle in the second half and falter in October.

Jeff Hoffman Postgame:

Jeff Hoffman: “Yeah, it sucks. All-Star wasn’t one of my goals, World Series was.” @PhilliesNation @OnPattison pic.twitter.com/K5aMhQVg9L

— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) October 10, 2024

“Yeah, it sucks,” Hoffman said with blunt honesty. “The All-Star Game 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.”

Don’t get me wrong, Hoffman’s overall 2024 campaign was strong. He posted a 2.17 ERA in 68 games, solidifying his place as one of the top relievers in the game. His 2.1 WAR, according to FanGraphs, ranked in the top five among all MLB relievers this season.

However, there was a noticeable drop-off between the first and second halves of his season.

• First half: 1.12 ERA, 2 home runs allowed in 40 1/3 innings
• Second half: 3.81 ERA, 4 home runs allowed in 26 innings

Those late-season struggles raised some red flags heading into the playoffs, and unfortunately, Hoffman’s shaky form followed him into October. If this was his last year with the Phillies, it wasn’t the way anyone envisioned it ending.

That being said, it’s tough to imagine the Phillies’ bullpen being better in 2025 without Hoffman unless the front office goes after a big-name closer like Devin Williams or Ryan Helsley—neither of whom are without their own postseason issues.

Hoffman’s numbers over the past two years speak for themselves: a 2.28 ERA and 2.54 FIP in 122 games. That’s elite production, no matter how you look at it.

Hoffman turns 32 in January, and while the Phillies aren’t expected to extend him a $21.2 million qualifying offer, he’s likely to attract attention on the free-agent market. A three-year deal seems reasonable, given his performance over the last two seasons.

Lineup Changes: Here’s how the Phillies can win the World Series in 2025

The Phillies would undoubtedly love to keep him, but they won’t be the only team interested when free agency opens.

Hoffman’s journey from being labeled a first-round bust to becoming a dominant reliever in Philadelphia, thanks in part to an impromptu sim game against Bryce Harper in 2023, has been nothing short of a baseball redemption story.

Join The Chase