Waiver Wire Targets: Week 16
A look ahead at some waiver wire targets for the upcoming week
Four-day work weeks before everyone you know goes on vacation got in the way of us doing a podcast this week. So we didn’t have time to meet together, but we didn’t want to leave you hanging before the fireworks go off.
Shallow League Pitcher Targets
Jake Bennett, Red Sox (40%): Still only 40% owned!? What are you waiting for? Boston’s rookie has a 2.78 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in his last four starts, but has actually pitched better than that with a 1.66 xERA. If you were worried about him heading back to Triple A, that worry is less now that Connolly Early is on the IL shelf.
Jeff Hoffman, Blue Jays (37%): If you are in a saves-only league, there is nothing to see here. But if you are in a league that counts holds (especially if they are equal to saves), Hoffman might be a guy on your waiver wire after losing his closer duties weeks ago. Hoffman signed a big 3-year deal with Toronto before the 2025 season on the strength of his work as a setup arm for the Phillies. A former Rockies’ starting pitching prospect, Hoffman eventually was pushed to the pen and then to a high-leverage role in Philly. He appears to have found his stuff again in June, with a 0.75 ERA and 11.3 K/9.