While it’s apparent that the Indians are not going to get Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, the team clearly is still in the market for an arm for the pen, and one player who could pay dividends both this year and for three more to come is San Diego Padres closer Brad Hand.
He’s just 28 years old, and the lefty is 6-foot-3, 228 pounds. He selected by the Marlins in the second round of the 2008 MLB draft, but wound up with the Padres after being claimed off waivers in early April of 2016.
In three seasons he has quickly moved into being the closer for San Diego, saving 21 games a season ago, and this year in the first half he closed 24 games.
If the Indians do make the move for Hand, the biggest question will be not only what they have to give up for him, but where does he fit in the leagues worst bullpen ERA wise?
Cody Allen is the current closer, and Andrew Miller is still coming back from injury, but both of them are free agents next season and it’s going to be a fight to get either of them back with the franchise.
Hand comes in much like the situation that the team got when they traded for Miller, making a move for a reliever that was under control for a couple of seasons.
As a lefty, he would right away lengthen the pen and add a much needed arm. Don’t be shocked to see his name along with plenty of others on the list that the Tribe has interest in, and if the team can get a deal done, it’s going to likely cost them a big name like Shane Bieber, Adam Plutko, or possibly even Francisco Mejia.
Add the #Indians to list of teams with interest in #Padres closer Brad Hand. He's signed for $6.5M and $7M the next two years, with a $10M club option for 2021. So he could be a nice hedge against Andrew Miller and Cody Allen leaving through free agency. Price very high, though.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 17, 2018
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