MLB Trade Rumors: Proposed 3-Player Deal Sees Phillies Reacquire Jeff Hoffman From Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays salvaged the final game in their series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, but they were thoroughly outclassed in the first two, and really established themselves as an also-ran this season. They are certain to be sellers at the deadline, and have a few notable trade candidates.

In this proposed deal, hypothesized by Mitch Bannon in The Athletic, the Jays would send out two players to the Philadelphia Phillies to fill big voids on the Phils' roster.

Philadelphia Phillies receive:

• Jeff Hoffman, RP
• Daulton Varsho, CF

Toronto Blue Jays receive:

• Justin Crawford, OF

This is a deal the Jays should jump at. They'd be receiving one of the Phillies' top prospects entering the season, who is already getting his feet wet in the majors. And while he hasn't yet shown the ability to hit with any authority (.304 OBP with a .648 OPS), he has flashed his elite speed (13 SBs). He hasn't solidified himself as a difference-maker yet on defense in center field, however. but he's just 22, and hasn't even eclipsed 300 plate appearances. He was a first-round pick in the MLB Draft in 2022. 

Crawford would be the ideal replacement for the Jays for the pending free agent Varsho. "With Toronto’s centre-field options for 2027 quite thin, taking an upside shot on a pedigreed, developed prospect like Crawford makes sense," Bannon said.

Phillies would upgrade CF and the bullpen in proposed deal with Blue Jays

For the Phillies, if they are truly going for it all this season, upgrading from the 22-year-old rookie Crawford to the veteran, elite defender in Varsho also makes a lot of sense. If he gets hot, he can leave the yard with pretty fair regularity, as his 20 homers and .833 OPS from last year showed in just 71 games. 

Getting Hoffman back for some high-leverage firepower out of the bullpen would be more than a "nostalgic" move for the Phillies, writes Bannon.

The power pitcher has racked up 14 K/9 this season in 43 innings, while sitting in the 97th percentile in K%, and the 98th percentile in Chase% and Whiff%.

Hoffman would be headed "back to the franchise where he flourished in 2023 and 2024, and ... (would) give them another strikeout weapon at the back of the bullpen."

As long as they don't try to use him as a closer, as any Toronto fan would tell them.