The Toronto Blue Jays have re-signed a player they traded at the 2023 trade deadline.
According to KRPC2’s Ari Alexander, the Blue Jays have signed Adam Kloffenstein to a minor-league deal, with an invite to Spring Training.
The Blue Jays selected him in the third round of the 2018 draft, giving him a reported signing bonus of $2.45 million. Aside from two innings pitched in 2018, Kloffenstein made his full season debut in 2019 where he had a 2.24 ERA and a 3.73 FIP in 64 innings pitched. In 2021 with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, he posted a much worse 6.22 ERA and a 5.16 FIP in 101.1 innings pitched.
Kloffenstein got off to a good start in High-A in 2022, posting a 3.81 ERA and a 4.74 FIP, but struggled in Double-A as he had a 6.07 ERA and a 5.07 FIP in 86 innings pitched. His final season in the Blue Jays organization during his first stint saw him post a 3.24 ERA and a 3.47 FIP in 89 innings pitched in Double-A, the best he’s ever looked.
However, the Blue Jays traded him and Sem Robberse to the St. Louis Cardinals for Jordan Hicks. There were three separate trades around this time, as they traded reliever Matt Svanson for Paul DeJong, as well as Sammy Hernandez for Génesis Cabrera. The Cardinals sent Kloffenstein to Triple-A, where he had a 3 ERA and a 5.78 FIP in 39 innings pitched.
Added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, Kloffenstein made his big league debut in 2024, pitching an inning without giving up an earned run. In 89.1 innings pitched in Triple-A, he had a 4.74 ERA and a 5.51 FIP.
The Cardinals decided to non-tender Kloffenstein before the non-tender deadline, making him a free agent. With the Blue Jays re-signing Kloffenstein, it’s safe to say this particular trade was a win for the Jays.
It’ll be interesting to see how the 24-year-old right-handed pitcher does in Spring Training as he was given an invite. Perhaps later in the season, he’ll get an opportunity to pitch for the big league Blue Jays. At worst, it’s valuable starter depth.

As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.