Dodgers gathering info on Hoffman, deal in works?
By john • Dec 4th, 2008 • Category: los angeles dodgers, major leagues, trevor hoffman
Things keep getting worse of the San Diego Padres in regards to former closer Trevor Hoffman. After the team offered the face of their franchise and the all-time saves leader a measly $4 million they then promptly removed the offer from the table. Now it appears that the Los Angeles Dodgers, a divisional foe, has been reading up on the 41-year old and may offer him a contract.
Hoffman has recently been linked to teams like the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers but the California native would undoubtedly prefer to stay on the West Coast not to mention that pitching against the Padres regularly may also be a bonus.
While no one says a deal is in the works, there’s reason the Dodgers have interest in Hoffman.
The Dodgers are looking at Hoffman after Takashi Saito’s 2008 season seemed to be one injury after another. Hoffman has been a picture of consistenty over the course of his career, picking up 30 or more saves each season dating back to 1995 except 2003 when he was out due to injury.
While it has been debated how long Hoffman can stay successful it’s worth nothing that last season was the first time since 2002 he actually had more strike outs then innings pitched, indicating that the guy still knows how to get guys out. In addition his WHIP has stayed around his career norm as Hoffman has gone futher and further to a place that no other closer has ventured.
Originally drafted by the Cincinnati Reds, Hoffman was taken by the Florida Marlins in the 1992 expansion draft. Along with David Weathers they are the only players still in the league from that team. The Padres acquired him in 1993 during a period they were selling off big league players for the future. Hoffman was the only player acquired from deals that became a star.
In 1994 Hoffman took over closing duties for the Padres and fans in San Diego celebrated Trevor Time. He racked up saves and he did it with ease. From 1996 to his surgery in 2003 he totals were 42, 37, 53, 40, 43, 43, 38. When he came back from missing a season he picked up where he left off. Nothing 41, 43, 46, 42 and finally 30 last season.
Just over two years ago Hoffman moved past Lee Smith to become the all-time saves leader with 479. In 2007 he became the first pitcher to top 500 saves and in August of 2008 he recorded his 550th career save.
There seems to be no doubt that Hoffman can still pitch. Hoffman very well could end up in Los Angeles and that would almost seem like deserved punishment for San Diego.
In 16 big league seasons Hoffman has 554 saves, a 2.78 ERA, and a 1.049 WHIP while appearing in 930 games.
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the Dodgers “have been gathering information on” Trevor Hoffman.
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[...] we reported back in early December that the Los Angeles Dodgers were looking into Trevor Hoffman as a ninth inning option we didn’t expect it to be January when the team made an [...]