Waiver Spotlight: Pedro Martinez

If you're looking for a hidden gem of a waiver-wire pitcher who could put you over the top down the stretch, Pedro Martinez is your guy! Owned in only 12% of ESPN leagues and 28% of Yahoo leagues, owners are clearly sleeping on Pedro due to his lack of success and over the last four years. Granted, four years is a long time, but a closer look shows that Pedro really only pitched poorly in 2008--when he was dealing with a myriad of injuries and the death of his father. In 2006 he posted an uncharacteristic 4.48 ERA, but his WHIP was a solid 1.11.

Now Pedro is supposedly back in good health for the first time in years and throwing the ball well. In his final rehab start before joining the Phillies, he fanned 11 batters in six innings. Then he hit 93 MPH on the radar gun in his season debut for Philly on August 12. Very encouraging considering that, in his prime, his fastball typically registered at 95...and that he has proven in the past that he can be effective even without his full velocity. (Remember Game 5 against Cleveland in 1999!)

Let's not forget that in his prime, Pedro was one of the greats of all time...maybe even the best. His 1999 and 2000 seasons were epic. He won pitching's triple crown in '99, and in 2000 he finished with a mind-blowing 1.74 ERA. The next best guy in the American League (Roger Clemens) came in a 3.70! So even at 80-90% of his old self, Pedro can be an elite starter.

Picking up Pedro--for short money no less--was a brilliant move by Philadelphia GM Ruben Amaro Jr. that could very well get them to the World Series. Grabbing him for your fantasy team could potentially put you over the top as well.