The Braves announced that they have declined their end of Brad Hand’s $7MM mutual option for the 2024 season. Hand will instead receive a $500K buyout. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Justin Toscano reported earlier today that the Braves were expected to pass Hand’s mutual option, so the 33-year-old southpaw will again return to the open market.
There wasn’t much suspense behind the decision, as Hand struggled to a 7.50 ERA over 18 innings after coming to Atlanta from Colorado at the trade deadline. Advanced metrics (such as a 49.6% strand rate) indicate that Hand was quite unlucky to post that 7.50 ERA, yet the Braves weren’t willing to take the $6.5MM bet that Hand would fare better in 2024.
Hand signed a one-year, $2MM deal with the Rockies last winter that initially contained a club option for 2024, but that club option became a mutual option once Hand was traded. It was essentially a technicality, as mutual options are rarely picked up by both sides anyway. Over the full 2023 campaign, Hand had a 5.53 ERA over 53 2/3 innings with Colorado and Atlanta, with a below average 9.3% walk rate. While still dominant against left-handed batters, Hand was hit hard by righty swingers this season, running contrary to his normally solid career splits.
Despite those uninspiring numbers, Hand’s 25% strikeout rate and above-average hard-contact metrics are perhaps more reflective of his actual quality during the 2023 season, as his 3.87 SIERA was well below his 5.53 ERA. This will be the case that Hand’s representatives will present to other teams in free agency, though it would be a surprise to see the left-hander get anything more than one guaranteed year.
Entering his age-34 season, Hand has 13 MLB seasons and three All-Star appearances under his belt, though his days as a closer are likely over. With a 2.89 ERA from 2016-22, Hand has a strong track record of success, and getting away from Coors Field might hint at better bottom-line results next year.
He had a bad Hand so they cashed out?
If Brad married Fernando, would he become Brad Abad-Hand or just Brad Abad?
He didn’t have a hand in being resigned.
A veteran lefty reliever with substandard numbers from 2023. Should be half a dozen teams willing to offer a one year deal. He’ll find a job somewhere.
The Braves have folded their hand.
And you’re gonna need it.
If Bloom were still in Boston this would have him written all over it
> If Bloom were still in Boston
> this would have him written all over it
*confused*
Hand’s hand would have Bloom written all over it?
Huh?
Bloom signing Hand is where i was going with that
> Bloom signing Hand
Exactly!
“Hand to Johnson to Mastroboni” commentary will forever live in our hearts.
Hand is another guy who seems as if he’s been around since 2003.
The easiest option decision the Braves have. I don’t mind if he comes back, but needs to be for like 1-2 mil, which he can likely get more elsewhere. Plus, we are kinda tight on bullpen arms
When did the owners start down the buy out path as a normal practice….what a boon for the players.
Depends on the size of the buyout. Often times, players end up losing out the next season after a buyout, as teams aren’t willing to pay anywhere close to the rejected option year’s annual salary. Only the really good players get the large buyout amounts.
Hand is a great example. He’s getting his $500K buyout from Atlanta but it’s unlikely he’ll get much more than $3M max next year, so he’s ‘losing’ 50% of what his 2024 compensation would have been had Atlanta picked up his $7M option.
Well, I’ve got to hand it to you guys. Knew there would be puns as soon as I saw the title and opened up to it.
They’ve decided not to talk to the hand
Terrible trade to begin with
This is getting out of hand with these back handed comments about Brad Hand. We need some relief pitching like the old saying goes…” a relief pitcher in the hand is better than two in the bush”