Brad Hand Agrees With Nationals
4 years agoThe Washington Nationals agreed with free-agent closer Brad Hand on a one-year, $10.5 million deal on Sunday, according to sources familiar with the deal. The 30-year-old figures to become the team's ninth-inning arm in his 11th big-league season in 2021, joining the back end of a Washington bullpen that includes Will Harris, Daniel Hudson and Tanner Rainey. The left-hander led the majors with 16 saves in Cleveland last year, but the club declined his $10 million option in a cost-cutting move. He also had a fantastic 2.05 ERA and 0.77 WHIP last year and had 58 saves in 65 chances for a 2.78 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 107 innings in two-plus seasons in Cleveland. Hand is known mostly for his slider and has 105 saves in 128 career chances with a 3.65 ERA in 608 2/3 innings. The southpaw should see save chances in D.C., but there's also the chance that he's used as a non-traditional closer before the ninth inning, which could make him a frustrating fantasy closer.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan