Cleveland Indians: Three teams that could add Brad Hand

Reports emerged on Thursday that the Cleveland Indians have waived closer Brad Hand. With a top reliever on the market, who could add him?

The offseason in Major League Baseball is underway and the Cleveland Indians began with a bang, placing closer Brad Hand on waivers. While Hand has been effective for Cleveland, being perfect on save opportunities during the regular season, his club option of $10 million for the 2021 season was just too much for a team looking to cut payroll.

Hand’s season ended on a sour note and that will be the last memory of him in Cleveland, but his season as a whole was rather impressive, as was his entire tenure with the Tribe.

During the 2020 season, Hand led all of baseball with 16 saves while also leading the American League in games finished with 21. Appearing in 23 games, Hand tossed 22 innings for the Indians this year, registering 29 strikeouts and maintaining an ERA of 2.05.

As for his time in the Cleveland uniform as a whole, he recorded 58 saves over three seasons, placing him seventh on the Indians’ All-Time saves list. He also kept his ERA at 2.78 over 107 innings pitched.

Where Hand could get knocked his is ability in the playoffs. He’s appeared in just three postseason games, but they haven’t gone well. Hand has yet to record a postseason save and has allowed four runs over those two games.

Even with the postseason struggles, Hand should draw interest this offseason. He might not get claimed off of waivers, but someone will sign the soon-to-be 31-year old closer.

Brad Hand still has plenty left in the tank, but his price tag was just too high for the Cleveland Indians to bring him back on his current deal. On the market, he might still get close to $10 million, but it will be much more difficult given the financial setbacks happening around the league.