The Mets have interest in free-agent left-hander Brad Hand, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. As Heyman notes, Mets team president Sandy Alderson said back in November the club may have been interested in claiming Hand off waivers had Cleveland parted with the reliever at a different time.
Not only did it come as a surprise that Cleveland let go of Hand, who was due a $10MM team option for 2021, but it was an eye-opener that nobody placed a claim on him. After all, the 30-year-old is a three-time All-Star who remained one of baseball’s most effective relievers a season ago. While Hand’s average fastball did drop from 92.7 mph to 91.4, he still recorded a 2.05 ERA with a 33.7 percent strikeout rate and a 4.7 percent walk rate over 22 innings. Hand also converted all 16 of his save opportunities.
Because nobody claimed him, Hand has been sitting on the open market for roughly two full months. He’s one of the premier relievers available, though, and the fit in New York is obvious. The Mets already spent a good amount of money on their bullpen earlier this offseason when they signed Trevor May to a two-year, $15.5MM contract, but doing so added another right-hander to a righty-heavy group. The Mets don’t have an established southpaw in their relief corps, so picking up Hand would give the team’s bullpen some balance.
Who?
Sandy has said that he wished that he was the GM when Hand was on waivers
Yeah really surprised no one picked up Hand for a decent price.
This shows me why many relievers would much rather start because even an OK starter can get $10 million.
Look at Mets last year- Porcello should’ve been singing for his supper – Mets paid him a hefty sum for a whole lotta nothing. And that is why Lugo wants to start.
I don’t care who they’re interested in if they’re not gonna sign them lol. Teams could say “we like ___” all day but maybe instead of one article just sum up all the interested teams in X player OR who a teams interested in one article.
I still don’t understand why the Phillies weren’t on him immediately
Because they have a budget and multiple holes to fill.
Yeah and one of those holes is the bullpen
Are you saying one hand can’t fill all their holes?
Gotta hand it to you-not terrible.
It’s pretty frustrating how the Phillies glaring needs is bullpen and they don’t seem to be “in” on any of these guys, but it’s early yet. It’s a slow offseason and it’s been frustrating for every team besides the Braves, Padres and Mets.
As a Braves fan, I felt that for the Phillies for the last couple of years – even after adding David Robertson. Considering how many NL East teams (at the time, at least) had huge bullpen issues, seemed to be a less expensive way of distancing yourself from your division foes (with better farms).
If you want frustration, be a Tiger’s fan. They have a roster full of AAAA players and no interest at all at improve it.
The bullpen is semi decent, but if you have a chance to add someone like Hand just for $, you do it.
Their outfield is terrible and they let Rosario and Dahl slip through their fingers.
Hey, they could always have Ronnie Rodriguez play LF again. Or Goodrum. Or Harold Castro.
Tanking Sucks!
To be fair, Rosario is still available
But to your point it is odd that the Tigers keep running middle Infielders out to the Outfield. I’m all for versatility but some stability does a team good
Tigers shouldn’t spend big dollars until they are sure of what they need. Hand is not what they need right now. They need to look at short term contracts. I would consider Rosario, who is still available, at the top of the list. Cron would be welcomed back if healthy. Walker for the rotation. But they do need to sell tickets, and they don’t seem to be trying so far.
Hang in there man. I really respect Detroit fans in the sports of football and baseball. You guys really stick with your teams no matter what
AAAA? Please don’t give Tigers players that much credit. Don’t cry too much Detroit boy, you had some pretty darn good teams in the 2000s in one of the best right hand hitters in history. Y’all messed that up.
At least the Tigers made it to the World Series a couple times in the last 15 years. Sure would have liked a win, but making it was nice.
How has your team done in the last 15 years?
Because he’s a dumpster fire in clutch postseason
I don’t think that will be a problem in Detroit
I am 100% positive Brad Hand is going to the Mets. There’s too much talk there for it not to happen.
If that was the case Blue Jays would have signed everybody!!!
If that were the case, the Blue Jays would have been dividing up all of the top 20 free agents.
Too much talk. It’s one article
Alderson said a few weeks back that they have Hand on their radar too.
Mets interested in Tom Glavine!
We’re doing just fine with Gary, Keith, and Ron, thank you.
phenomenalajs: Are you referring to Gary (Carter),Keith (Hernandez),& Ron (Darling)? If so, that is a HEAVENLY blast from the past.
Noooo. Gary Cohen. Broadcast team!! Best in baseball, no competition.
The best if you like, and I’ll quote Ron on this, “Mets hyperbole.”
It came as a surprise w/r to the timing?.. it was either pick up the contract or non-tender within 72 hours of the completion of the world series.. There wasn’t a different time.. This smacks of agent generated “pot stirring”.. Hand is a good RP.. no longer a closer. .he’s lost at least two and up to six ticks off his FB.. He pitches off the difference between his FB and off speed offering(s). So, he should remain effective, but, his margin for error has been significantly diminished.. as will his AAV..
He is more than likely discussing the 40 man roster regarding timing. Brad Hand was released prior to the Rule 5 draft where teams are trying to figure out who they want to protect and how many spots that want to keep open on the 40 man roster. They may not of had a spot open on the 40 man to claim him or they wanted to leave a spot open for other acquisitions.
The Indians had 3 spots open on their 40 man roster and picked up one guy. This was a financial and performance decision to release Hand. The Tribe also saved $ 10 MM in salary….
Financial decision, and while his FB slowed a tad, he was bang on last season and up for reliever of the year.
Alderson was referring to the fact that Cohen had not completed his ‘full purchase’ of the Mets at the time Hand’s option was not picked up (NY Mayor’s approval of the sale and league owners approval of Cohen). Had Cohen fully owned the team by then, there’s a good chance the Mets would have claimed Hand off of waivers and maybe even worked out an extra year extension with him.
Dorothy, thank you for refreshing everyone’s memory. The Alderson/Cohen duo were not yet official during the waiver period, so it couldn’t happen. That said, he is probably the best lefty out there who can close if needed. I wouldnt go more than 2 years and an option/buyout after.
The timing Sandy was referring to has to do with the ownership transition for the Mets. Hand was put on waivers while Jeff Wilpon and Brodie Van Wagenen were making the baseball decisions. Sandy was saying if he and Steve Cohen were in charge they would have made the claim.
Spot on, Chris.
I realize his fastball velocity is down somewhat significantly from its peak. But saying he’s no longer a closer is a little premature. He was 16/16 in save opportunities last year with an almost 2.00 ERA. So if he were to continue that level of production fastball velocity or not… that drfinitely seems sufficient to be a closer on many if not most teams.
2.05 ERA. 1.37 FIP. 16 for 16 in save opportunities. Most saves in baseball both in 2020 and over the past 2 seasons. Hand is not just a closer, he is an elite closer.
Just for laughs I hope the Mets offer him 1 year, $10 million just to see what his reaction is.
The thing is, why would they? They have pretty good evidence that no one else will go that high.
I love it. Steve Cohen is a wise guy. Might do it!
In my mind the Mets Bullpen is already solid. I don’t see the need for Hand, but they have plenty of money I guess. Why not make an ultimate bullpen? That being said, I think they need starting pitching.
Their bullpen seems like it could be really good or really bad. Edwin Diaz has been inconsistent throughout his career and he’s yet to string together even 2 good seasons. Jeryus Familia and Dellin Betances are huge question marks. Putting Lugo in the pen would really help solidify things and signing May was really good. But many of the arms they’re looking to rely on haven’t been the most consistent the last few seasons.
I don’t think there’s such a thing as a consistent bullpen arm anymore.
Hand has been consistent. Maybe that is why they are looking at him,
Diaz DID string together 2 good seasons, total of 91 saves. #1 AL save leader in 2018 (57, 124 Ks), 4th in 2017. Just facts, not fake views.
Gave up a lot of home runs, lots of walks in 2017. His 4.02 FIP, 3.97 xFIP weren’t very good. Might have had a lot of saves, but it wasn’t really a good season.
ANY team, would take 2 consistent seasons of combined 91 saves, especially when they are not division leaders.
You opined, “he’s yet to string together even 2 GOOD seasons.”
2018 was incredible for Diaz (unless to attain “good”, he should have reached 60 or 70 saves) and well above “good” in 2017. 4th in saves is not just good, it was way above average in the AL that year as well. If #1 the next isn’t good, your metrics cloud reality. Add them, you have 2 consistent seasons. Just pointing out your hunch of “good” and 2 “good” seasons. ANY team would also beg to differ. It’s OK, misinformed sweeping generalizations are part of this venue. But opinions are just that. Do better!
I don’t think its good because he gave up a lot of walks and home runs. Those two do not combine well and it’s even more pronounced when your job is to pitch one inning, that usually being the last inning of the game. Saves aren’t everything and are more of an indicator of opportunities than actually effectiveness, especially with more teams opting for a closer by committe or putting your best relief pitcher in the highest leverage situation more often.
Super pens not a bad idea especially if you dont like the going rate/names for Sps –
I think they have all the ingredients to have a top 5 pen in the bigs
Loved the May signing earlier, people forget Edwin was lights out last year – Also agree Lugo should stay in the pen his next 2 years, if he wants to start he’ll have his say in free agency in 2 years- Familia is a terrible guy to ink but if your not depending on him hes a nice free -roll to put up a contract year 65 inns – They should re-up J wilson on a 2/9 he’s seemed to have found a good home in NY
Degrom Sonny Gray Stroman +Super pen is enough to hoist the crown if all break right – Cohens has soo many angles in which to land the plane- Should be a fascinating January here
Still upset about missing out on Sugano, but Hand is solid, and they do need BP help… Diaz is unreliable – even in his strong year last year he was 6/10 in save opportunities… that’s bad… he’s not someone I trust in the clutch, seems to come up small when it’s needed most
I wouldn’t call the Mets bullpen solid by any stretch of the imagination. Familia, Betances and Gsellman can’t be trusted and Diaz still doesn’t convince me. If Lugo moves to the rotation the bullpen only becomes more suspect.
As does the rotation
Sign his cousin, Mike Foot!
Original.
I see you share the same affinity for lame puns as I do! @pinkerton are you a dad as well?
Could it be that he’s overplaying his Hand?
Back to San Diego? And hopefully with Darren Balsley?
I want the Mets to get Hand just so instead of some Metallica intro music, they play the classic Seinfeld clip (s03e14) of George Constanza bemoaning to his girlfriend —
George Constanza: “You can’t break up with me! I’ve got hand.”
Ex-girlfriend: “And you’re gonna need it.”
I can kinda understand the timing issue with Hand. No one was expecting Cleveland to decline the relatively affordable $10M option, so when they did, there were probably concerns that Cleveland knew something that the other teams didn’t, and there was not enough time for the Mets (or any other team) to do sufficient due diligence to alleviate those concerns during the waiver period.
wrong. cheap ownership
Oddvark; Yup
Blue Jays talk to him yet?
Are you asking if the Jays will talk to the Hand?
I’ll show myself out…
I’m still shocked nobody picked up his 10 million. I’d have Hand on a one year 10 million than Hendriks 3 or 4 years 40+ million.
I could see a 4/36 or 4/40 getting him signed for the Mets.
4 years for a relief pitcher is a stretch. 2 maybe, 4? Not so much.
They won’t need to pay him that much since he was already passed up for 1/10.
I’ll pass. Don’t prend money on relivers and especially not on 30+ year old relivers who blow a lot of baseball games. You want to spend 10 mill a year so that this guy can be booooed relentlessly…. no way.,
Blow a lot of games? He was 16 for 16 last season and 50 for 55 the past 2 seasons.
No one in baseball has more saves or a higher save percentage the past 2 season than Hand and as @mrbrklyn pointed out he was a perfect 16 for 16 last season.
Nothing happening offseason
I’ll Hand it to the Mets, they are signing everybody….nobody
Mets slow playing big names hoping to catch a deal. Might work w springer
3 years 24 million. Anyone think he’s getting 10 a year for multiple years don’t understand that a team would’ve just claimed him if they were interested in that price
Ummmm no. That is a post hoc ergo propter hoc logical fallacy. Teams had 3 days after the WS ended to figure out if they wanted Hand. So its neither a sure deal he gets less than $10 million AAV nor that him not signing in waivers means anything other than that he didn’t sign.
Any reliever I’d want on a 1 or 2 year deal ideally. A lot of teams could use this guy though so I’m sure we will hear other teams linked in the next few days.
Eat the frog. Eat it!
Aloha Mr. Hand!
Like to see the Mets sign him. I am surprised he has not been signed yet to be honest.
Lots of teams could use a reliable late-inning reliever yet they are passing on a three-time all-star closer who turns 31 just prior to opening day. I doubt it’s collusion, so there must be a red flag somewhere. Undervalued closer or mistake waiting to happen? I wouldn’t want my team to be the one to find out, especially on a multi-year deal.
Could be MLB lost a boatload of money in 2020.
Except they didn’t lose money as we saw in the Braves financial statements in the Liberty Media Corporation Q3 2020 earnings call. Teams lost some profit, but there is nothing showing that any team actually was in the red in 2020. Teams lost some revenue, but the players took the brunt of that too by taking a $2.4 billion pay cut. Every team will get $70 million more revenue in 2021 because of increases in the money from national TV contracts. There is no excuse for any team to cry poor.
I think it’s clear the left Hand doesn’t know what the right Hand is doing. Of course on the other Hand, one Hand washes the other, so there’s that too.
On the Other Hand…is a Fist. Stiff Records artist Jona Lewie had an album titled that in 1978. A good record, by the way.
What year is this?
Was Stop the Cavalry on that album? Or You’ll always find me in the kitchen at parties?
Give this guy a Hand, will ya?
Mets and the Bluejays are listed in almost every article. So far neither team has really done anything
You don’t make moves just to make moves.
My point is that neither team has done anything to live up to all the hype and speculation that these teams are going to sign every FA
Diaz DID string together 2 good seasons, total of 91 saves. #1 AL save leader in 2018 (57, 124 Ks), 4th in 2017. Just facts, not fake views.
2 years/ 16 million to the Mets.
Oooo… me likey. Do it! I would’ve claimed him off waivers for the 1 year/$10m. Can’t believe he’s still out there. Give him the same deal as Trevor May, 2 year/$15m
I have an interest in him too… who wouldn’t ?
I would stay away from him. If his fastball is dropping then how will it affect his complementary pitches. I think there is an issue with him, which is making him less valuable for then what he thinks he is. With Cleveland’s reluctance of making trades without hefty returns makes me not want him.
Keep looking, Mets. Hand is married.
Twins need Hand!
Everyone needs Hand when Twins are involved
I’m still really surprised that no one claimed him off waivers when he was available to any team for nothing more than his $10M salary for 2021. Even with the revenue loss from the pandemic and everything else he just seems like he’s definitely worth 1 year and $10M. And now that a guy like May signed for an AAV of $7.5M is Hand going tobwindbup signing somewhere for more than $10M? THAT would really be strange. But based on Trevor May getting 2/$15 and Hand being significantly better – at least statistically – it’ll be really interesting to see how much he winds up signing for. It would be hard to imagine him actually getting more than the $10M teams passed on just a couple months ago. But at the same time he’s probably going to come close to that amount. maybe a 2 year $18M contract or 3/$25M? At least basing it off May’s deal you would think he’d be worth more than that.
My opinion is the that he would need a bidding war for him to get any offers higher then max $5 or $6 if lucky. The guy is good, but declining.
2/16 gets it done I’d say. Not sure you want to go beyond two years. Having May, Hand, Lugo and Diaz on the backend isn’t too shabby, with Familia eating innings for those blowouts.
Is this Mets interest in Hand the same interest for every other free agent or is this report legit?
Are we going to see the same article next with just the Blue Jays inserted in the same spot as the Mets?
Hand will be visiting the Blue Jays tomorrow. lol
Something smells a bit off with Hand and the way CLE just let him go like that. Even more so when you think that not one team claimed him off waivers for a very reasonable commitment. Two years at 15-16mn would be interesting enough for me to give it a whirl… but why not just re-sign Wilson for less?
Pirates are one team I thought would claim him. Maybe too pricey for them lo
The Pirates should consider Wilson if he doesn’t re-up w. the Mets. He was pretty decent last year and likely could be had for an affordable 2yr deal.
Hand (and the Tribe) would have been better off had he blown a couple of saves during the regular season. The seventh seed would have gotten them the A’s rather than Yankees, and a series with Oakland wouldn’t have started with Bieber getting smashed and Hand blowing a lead in the 9th of the deciding game.
Think about it. That’s all Indians fans do. They think about things like this, trust me.
Blue Jays should sign him. Than they’d have a Hand on the birds.
I’ll be here all week. Try the veal.
That is very Handy
So long as there’s nothing secretly wrong with Hand, a two-year deal would be smart.
Smart may also be eating the cost of an unreliable reliever and signing another quality setup arm. Cohen has money and he wants to win, so why hold onto Familia or Betances if there are better options available?
Does signing Hand give you more balance? He is a closer, therefore you haven’t added any more balance. He’ll be ending the games & you haven’t any LHR in any previous inning.
I think that Brad Hand would fit on the Mets nicely
Like a glove
they also need another strong bat 3rd baseman a 2 way centerfielder and 1 more SP..
Or 4th place.
Would you quit pretending already and sign hand // New York needs him all those righties your gonna get hit and hit hard // he’s affordable and effective don’t wait till the Phillies or someone else grabs him up, for you start thinking, man I should of…