From
Mark Feinsand:
Hoffmann heads back to the Dodgers for now, but don't be surprised to see him back in the Yankees organization at some point. There have been plenty of whispers in recent weeks about the Yankees sending either Chad Gaudin or Sergio Mitre to Los Angeles for Hoffmann, who the Yankees could then send to Triple-A. As a Rule 5 pick, Hoffmann had to stay on the 25-man roster or be returned to the Dodgers.
I'm sure the Yankees would have loved to keep Hoffmann and start him in Triple-A, but thanks to the Rule-5 rules that wasn't possible. Trading for him would open up that possibility, and since we've already heard that Gaudin or Mitre will
almost certainly be traded before the season this would make sense.
