Fantasy News

• Phillies' Jeff Hoffman: Nabs win Saturday

  Rotowire Apr 14, 2024

  Hoffman (2-0) picked up the win in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Pirates, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning. After shutting Pittsburgh down on 17 pitches (11 strikes) in the top of the ninth to preserve a 3-3 tie, Hoffman got rewarded when Nick Castellanos walked it off with a single in the bottom of the frame. The right-hander has had a strong start to the season in a high-leverage role, being scored upon in only one of his seven appearances while posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB, but the ninth-inning picture for the Phillies could get even more crowded when Orion Kerkering (forearm) gets added to the mix, joining Hoffman (one save) and Jose Alvarado (two saves).

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• Phillies' Jeff Hoffman: Picks up first save

  Rotowire Apr 10, 2024

  Hoffman earned the save Wednesday against the Cardinals, working around a hit in a scoreless ninth inning. After allowing two runs in his last outing Monday, Hoffman rebounded with a scoreless frame Wednesday to earn his first save of the season and third of his career. The 31-year-old right-hander figures to be in the ninth-inning mix for the Phillies going forward, though Jose Alvarado is likely still the preferred closing option. Overall, Hoffman has a 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB through his first six appearances this year.

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• Phillies' Jeff Hoffman: Blows save, picks up win

  Rotowire Apr 8, 2024

  Hoffman (1-0) allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning Monday. He struck out one, blew a save chance and earned a win over the Phillies. Hoffman coughed up the 3-1 lead in the ninth inning after Jose Alvarado worked a clean eighth but the Phillies quickly took the lead back in the 10th to get Hoffman the victory. Hoffman had turned in 4.1 scoreless frames prior to Monday's hiccup. As of now, Alvarado still appears to be the team's top ninth-inning option.

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• Phillies' Jeff Hoffman: Scoreless spring continues

  Rotowire Mar 22, 2024

  Hoffman struck out the side against the Tigers on Friday and now has a 10:2 K:BB in 7.2 scoreless innings this spring. After struggling as a swingman with the Rockies and Reds for most of his career, Hoffman suddenly emerged as a shutdown reliever for the Phillies last season. He finished the year with a 2.41 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 33.2 percent strikeout rate in 52.1 innings. If his spring numbers are any indication, he's on track for a similar performance this season. That could earn him a handful of saves if the Phillies go with a closer committee, which manager Rob Thomson has favored in the past.

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• Phillies' Jeff Hoffman: Gets raise from Phillies

  Rotowire Jan 11, 2024

  The Phillies and Hoffman avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.2 million contract Thursday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. It was the final year of arbitration eligibility for Hoffman, who is coming off his best season in the majors after collecting a 2.41 ERA and 69:19 K:BB over 52.1 innings. He'll be a high-leverage option out of the Phillies' bullpen again in 2024.

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• Phillies' Jeff Hoffman: Contract selected by PHI

  Rotowire May 4, 2023

  Hoffman had his contract selected by the Phillies on Thursday. Hoffman triggered the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with Philly earlier this week, forcing the hand of the reigning NL champs. He racked up 16 strikeouts through nine innings of relief this season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley but was holding an overall 7.00 ERA. The right-hander figures to operate in a low-leverage bullpen role.

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• Phillies' Jeff Hoffman: Exercises opt-out clause

  Rotowire May 4, 2023

  Hoffman exercised the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with the Phillies earlier this week, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. Hoffman has yet to be officially released, so perhaps the two sides were able to come to a new agreement. If not, he will soon become a free agent. The 30-year-old right-hander has flashed improved velocity this season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley but was sporting an ugly 7.00 ERA through nine innings of relief in the International League.

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• Phillies' Jeff Hoffman: Signs minors deal with Phillies

  Rotowire Apr 1, 2023

  Hoffman signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. Hoffman will make $1.3 million if he reaches the majors and can opt out at the start of May if not. The 30-year-old's 5.68 career ERA in parts of seven big-league seasons is poor even when considering he spent five years in Colorado and two in Cincinnati, but the Phillies might need him nonetheless. Philadelphia is currently without fourth starter Ranger Suarez (forearm) as well as likely sixth and seventh starters Andrew Painter (elbow) and Cristopher Sanchez (triceps). Even if Hoffman gets a call-up, however, he won't have much fantasy appeal.

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• Twins' Jeff Hoffman: Moves down to minor-league camp

  Rotowire Mar 25, 2023

  The Twins reassigned Hoffman to minor-league camp Saturday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports. Hoffman has an opt-out in his minor-league contract, and this could lead to him deciding to test free agency. The right-hander dealt with elbow troubles in the early part of camp, and he posted a 3.60 ERA over five innings in the Grapefruit League before the demotion.

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• Twins' Jeff Hoffman: Makes spring debut

  Rotowire Mar 7, 2023

  Hoffman (elbow) worked an inning of relief and gave up two earned runs on two hits and one walk while striking out two in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Pirates in Grapefruit League play. Hoffman, who inked a minor-league deal with the Twins in late February, made his spring debut Sunday after spending the prior week ramping up at camp. The right-hander appears to be healthy again after forearm and elbow trouble sidelined him for most of the entire second half of the past season while he was with the Reds. Since Hoffman isn't a member of the Twins' 40-man roster, he may face an uphill battle to win a spot in Minnesota's Opening Day bullpen.

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• Twins' Jeff Hoffman: Heading to Minnesota

  Rotowire Feb 26, 2023

  Hoffman (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Sunday that includes an invite to big-league spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. Hoffman elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Reds in November, and he's finally secured a new deal with spring training just underway. The 30-year-old had a 3.83 ERA and 45:23 K:BB over 44.2 innings last season but missed the second half with forearm and elbow issues. The right-hander's contract includes opt outs March 28, May 15 and June 15, so he'll have options if the Twins don't add him to the big-league roster.

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• Reds' Jeff Hoffman: Shut down for season

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2022

  Hoffman has been shut down for the season due to elbow soreness, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Hoffman has been out since late July, so he technically had a chance to return in late September for an appearance or two. That won't be happening now, though an MRI did at least reveal that Hoffman had avoided a ligament tear and therefore won't need Tommy John surgery.

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• Reds' Jeff Hoffman: Shifts to 60-day IL

  Rotowire Sep 1, 2022

  The Reds transferred Hoffman (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday. Since Hoffman hadn't pitched for the Reds since July 23, he'll be eligible to return from the IL in late September, though it's unclear if he's on track to make a full recovery from his right forearm injury before the season ends in the first week of October. Hoffman's move to the 60-day IL clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville.

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• Reds' Jeff Hoffman: Responds poorly to throwing session

  Rotowire Aug 10, 2022

  Reds manager David Bell said Wednesday that Hoffman (forearm) wasn't feeling well after his throwing session in Milwaukee over the weekend and is scheduled to meet with a doctor, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Bell acknowledged that he wasn't sure whether Hoffman would need to undergo an MRI, but at the very least, the right-hander looks like he'll have his throwing progression slowed down while he continues to experience forearm discomfort. Hoffman posted a 3.83 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across 44.2 innings out of the bullpen for Cincinnati before landing on the 15-day injured list July 24.

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• Reds' Jeff Hoffman: Throws 1.2 innings in Game 2

  Rotowire Jul 8, 2022

  Hoffman did not factor into the decision in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader, allowing zero runs on one hit and zero walks over 1.2 innings against the Pirates. He struck out three. The Reds were winging it in the nightcap; manager David Bell admitted in the afternoon that he didn't know who would start the second game. It ended up being Hoffman, who retired five of the seven batters he faced before turning things over to the rest of the bullpen. Hoffman has rebounded in a relief role this season (3.15 ERA through 30 total appearances) and will likely remain in the bullpen for the rest of 2022.

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• Reds' Jeff Hoffman: Starting nightcap

  Rotowire Jul 7, 2022

  Hoffman is starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Pirates, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Hoffman made 11 starts for the Reds last year, but his first 29 appearances of the 2022 campaign have come out of the bullpen. However, he's recorded a career-best 3.29 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 38.1 innings to begin the season. The right-hander tossed 1.1 innings Tuesday against the Mets, so he'll likely be on a pitch count during Thursday's nightcap.

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• Reds' Jeff Hoffman: Placed on injured list

  Rotowire Jun 24, 2022

  Hoffman was placed on the injured list for an unspecified reason Friday. Since the Reds didn't provide an injury designation for Hoffman on Friday, it seems likely that he's on the COVID-19 injured list. Assuming that's the case, he'll be eligible to return as soon as he clears the league's health and safety protocols, but his return timetable depends on whether he's tested positive for the virus. Right-hander Jared Solomon was recalled to take Hoffman's place in the rotation.

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• Reds' Jeff Hoffman: Gives up two runs

  Rotowire Apr 9, 2022

  Hoffman came on in relief of Reiver Sanmartin during Friday's loss to Atlanta and gave up two runs over 2.2 innings, allowing two hits and a walk without striking out a batter. Those two runs ultimately mattered, as a Reds rally in the ninth inning ended up one run short. At least Hoffman got some length in the game to save the back end of the bullpen, but he's in a role that provides little fantasy viability.

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• Reds' Jeff Hoffman: Inks deal with Cincy

  Rotowire Mar 22, 2022

  Hoffman agreed to a one-year, $925,000 contract with the Reds on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports. Hoffman posted a 4.56 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 79:45 K:BB over 73 innings for Cincinnati last season, and he's now officially under contract for 2022. The 29-year-old struggled as a starter but pitched better out of the bullpen, and he figures to remain as a reliever this season.

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• Reds' Jeff Hoffman: Dormant since shelling

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2021

  Hoffman hasn't pitched in the last two weeks since getting shelled against the Tigers on September 3, when he gave up four runs and served up two homers over 1.2 innings. The Reds have been carrying an eight-man bullpen and yet Hoffman hasn't been used at all. What's strange is that was basically Hoffman's only bad outing as a reliever -- in 18.0 previous innings of relief, he had a 1.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with a 24:7 K:BB. Nonetheless, manager David Bell hasn't had the confidence to use him during a tough stretch for the Reds.

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