TORONTO – The Phillies characterized their pursuit of Jeff Hoffman as “aggressive.” Hoffman said the Phillies were “pretty light.”
Hoffman, who is facing his former team for the first time since signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, took some time on Tuesday to greet his former teammates Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm in the outfield at Rogers Centre before the series opener. He facetimes with Strahm often. He keeps in touch with everyone on the Phillies side.
The Phillies have handed over Hoffman’s fireman high-leverage role with runners on to Kerkering.
“Orion is doing what Orion does,” Hoffman said.