The Washington Nationals have agreed to sign free agent left-hander Brad Hand, according to several reports. The deal is for one year and $ 10.5 million, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
What’s interesting here is that by the start of this offseason, Cleveland put Hand on immediate remissions in the hopes that another club would take one year and $ 10 million out of his hands. No team did that and Cleveland had to pay the $ 1 million buyout to deny the option, so Hand actually appears with $ 1.5 million as if his option was simply taken up.
Hand, 30, led the majors last season with 16 saves, while hitting to a 2.05 ERA and 0.77 WHIP, with 29 strikeouts at just four runs. His fast ball no longer blows opponents away, but his move is outstanding and he has excellent command. Even with the drop in velocity in 2020, its allowed percentage of hard hits has decreased. He held opposing hitters to a .169 / .226 / .260 line.
The move for the Nationals does not necessarily preclude a reunion in DC with free agent Sean Doolittle, but it does give the Nats a natural replacement in the late-left role if the reunion does not happen.
As for the Nationals currently for the late innings, Daniel Hudson was the closer last season and he returned, but he also posted a 6-plus ERA. Hand can certainly handle closing duties, as we have seen in recent years. Righties, Tanner Rainey and Will Harris also believe they will sit in the high-leverage roles this season.
Hand has been heavily linked with rumors with the Mets over the past few weeks, but nothing has come to fruition. Instead, he will end up with another NL East team.