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.

Cincinnati Reds

Only three teams logged fewer saves than the Philadelphia Phillies, but the Cincinnati Reds managed to be one of them. With just nine saves over the 60 games of the 2020 season, the Reds had more saves than only the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite that, Cincinnati still managed to finish second in the National League Central, granting them a spot in the playoffs.

The Reds making the playoffs could actually increase their chances of signing Hand, should they view him as the potential difference between where they finished and where they want to be. However, Hand wouldn’t necessarily walk into the closer role in Cincinnati.

Of the nine save for the Reds, eight were registered by Raisel Iglesias, who was also one of the Reds’ best relievers. Iglesias appeared in 22 games for the Reds, totaling 23 innings, nearly the same as Hand in Cleveland. Those 23 innings translated to 31 strikeouts and a 2.74 ERA.

Iglesias, though, is a right-handed pitcher whereas Hand is left-handed. Having a one-two punch of Iglesias and Hand and being able to alternate who pitches the eighth and ninth based on the situation could be an intriguing idea to Cincinnati. Both have the potential to be the team’s closer and could see time in the role until one stands out from the other.

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins aren’t in dire need of a closer, but adding Brad Hand could be an upgrade for them and they could be given a discount. Being born in Minneapolis and growing up in Minnesota, Hand could given the Twins a hometown discount to not only play in his home state, but make a run for a championship.

The 2020 season saw Minnesota total 17 saves as a team. Taylor Rogers netted the most with nine while Sergio Romo added five, Trevor May two and Matt Wisler one. While that approach worked, the Twins could look for a more conventional closer in Hand.

Additionally, two of the four that logged saves are set to become free agents. Romo and May are both at the end of their contracts. On top of that, Romo will be 38-years old at the beginning of the 2021 season, which might deter Minnesota from bringing him back.

The Cleveland Indians don’t want Brad Hand to go in the division, but if he leaves in free agency, then the Indians don’t have a say. Hand returning to his home state to try and bring a title to Minneapolis makes all too much sense. When you throw in the fact that the Twins could lose a few bullpen arms in free agency as well, they all of a sudden seem like a potential front runner to land Hand.