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Report: Braves asked for Blue Jays' Hoffman in potential Justin Upton trade

Dale Zanine / USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Jeff Hoffman isn't eligible to be traded for another six months, but he's already been the envy of two high-profile negotiations.

The Blue Jays reportedly refused to include Hoffman in potential trade with the Atlanta Braves for impending free agent Justin Upton this winter, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Blair. Blair reports the Blue Jays responded with an emphatic "no" to the request, and Upton was eventually dealt to the San Diego Padres in a six-player trade.

It's the second time this offseason that Hoffman's name has surfaced in trade rumors. Blair's colleague Shi Davidi reported Sunday the Blue Jays ended negotiations with the Baltimore Orioles for executive Dan Duquette after the team requested Hoffman and two other prospects be included in the deal.

Hoffman was projected to be a possible first-overall pick before the hard-throwing right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery days before last year's draft. The Blue Jays selected the 22-year-old pitcher ninth overall and signed him to a $3.08-million bonus.

MLB rules prohibit teams from trading draft picks until a year after they've been signed, meaning that Hoffman could only be included in a potential deal as a player to be named later.

Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos told Sportsnet that Hoffman continues to progress in his rehab and expects him to appear in minor league games as early as April.

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