Dodgers Showing Interest in All-Star Reliever Brad Hand
The Dodgers will need to make a few moves to adjust to free-agent losses. Mainly, they will need to adjust to life without some of their bullpen guys that are hitting the market. Alex Wood, Pedro Baez, Jake McGee, and Blake Treinen are all out there testing the waters of free agency as of now.
The Dodgers could look to bring any number of those guys back, though a few seem unlikely at this point. Blake Treinen will probably get paid pretty decently by a contender in need of bullpen help, and the same can probably be said of Pedro Baez to a lesser extent.
The good news is that the Dodgers are already on the hunt for top bullpen talent. It was reported on Wednesday morning that they had already been in contact with and shown interest in left-handed reliever Brad Hand.
Source: #Dodgers showing interest in free agent LHP Brad Hand, who could fit into the bullpen’s “Blake Treinen” role if the team does not re-sign . . . Blake Treinen. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 25, 2020
Hand found himself in an interesting situation in Cleveland where he was very good, but they couldn’t afford him. The Indians declined Hand’s $10 million player option for the 2021 season making him a free agent, and possibly available to the World Series Champion Dodgers.
If the Dodgers could sign Hand, that would be a huge upgrade to their bullpen in 2021. Hand has shown that he can get out both right-handed and left-handed bats, and held opponents to a .169 batting average in 2020. He did not allow a homerun in his 23 appearances.
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I like the idea of Hand he has been a lights-out reliever.
The only reservation is why did Cleveland not take his $10 Million deal and at least try to trade him?
Does he have some type of arm problem or injury?
The mystery is why not a single team, Dodgers included, didn’t pick up that 10M, 1 year contract. He’s been losing velo, but coming off a year he went 16 for 16 in saves, with dominating peripherals. Certainly worth 10M for one year, that’s couch change for the D’s, who forked out 25M for Erisbel Arruebarrena, who couldn’t hit a lick in Cuba, or if you don’t like that, 24M for Kelly, who had a long established record of mediocrity.
Good question there about Hand. However not allowing any HR’s in 23 appearances in 2020 is worth taking into consideration.
I’ve always liked Hand and have been excited that this might be the time we finally get him! But you bring up a very good point with the Why question.
Anyway, still think he’s a good get for a year!