Brad Hand Fantasy Baseball News
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Nationals’ Brad Hand: Looks good in BP session
Brad Hand threw 25 pitches in a batting practice session Tuesday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports. “He threw the ball really, really well. So he’s getting close to getting in a game here soon,” manager Dave Martinez said afterwards.The southpaw was signed in the offseason to shore up the back of the Washington Nationals’ bullpen after being cut loose by Cleveland in October. Hand has recorded 103 saves over the last four seasons, and while Martinez has been seemingly reluctant so far to definitively state that the 30-year-old is his closer, there’s currently no reason to think Hand has any serious competition for the role.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Nationals’ Brad Hand: May not be locked in as closer
Brad Hand appears to be the Washington Nationals’ closer but may not be fully locked into the job, with manager Dave Martinez merely saying Friday, “In a perfect world, he’ll be our closer,” Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.It’s possible all it takes to qualify as a “perfect world” in Martinez’s mind is that Hand remains healthy this spring, something that shouldn’t be too difficult given that he hasn’t hit the injured list since 2014. If that’s all the manager meant, there’s little reason to worry here, but it’s nevertheless strange to see Hand given less than a full endorsement. He sure looks like the closer after saving 103 games over the last four years while posting a 2.61 ERA, so there’s probably not much reason to worry unless the Nationals continue to refer to him in somewhat ambiguous terms.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Nationals’ Brad Hand: Working on sinker
Brad Hand has spent a good part of the offseason working on his sinker, and trying to improve his velocity with both it and his four-seam fastball, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.Hand’s average fastball velocity has dropped two mph over the last two seasons, forcing him to dedicate this offseason to regaining some of that velocity. His results have still been excellent despite the velocity drop, but he’s been working with less of a margin for error than he’d like.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Nationals’ Brad Hand: Reaches deal with Nationals
Brad Hand signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Washington Nationals on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.Hand drew heavy interest during free agency before reaching his short-term agreement with the Nationals. The deal is pending a physical, but the 30-year-old should take over as Washington’s closer in 2021 after converting on all 16 of his save chances with Cleveland last year while posting a career-best 2.05 ERA and 0.77 WHIP over 22 innings.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Brad Hand: Clears waivers
Brad Hand cleared waivers and had his $10 million contract option declined by Cleveland on Friday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.Hand was placed on outright waivers Thursday, but no team claimed him under his $10 million price tag. He’ll be paid a $1 million buyout by Cleveland, and the southpaw could have to settle for a lesser deal in free agency due to decreased financial flexibility around the league.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Indians’ Brad Hand: Waived by Cleveland
Brad Hand was placed on outright waivers by Cleveland on Thursday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.The team intends to decline Hand’s $10 million club option and pay him a $1 million buyout should he pass through waivers unclaimed. The veteran lefty has a resume that teams would seemingly be quite happy to pay $10 million for under ordinary circumstances, as he’s saved 105 career games and owns a 2.70 ERA and a 33.3 percent strikeout rate over the last five seasons. It’s possible this is just an example of Cleveland being cheap, though if Hand does indeed head to free agency, it could be an indicator of just how suppressed the market will be during a pandemic offseason.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Indians’ Brad Hand: Blows save, loses Game 2
Brad Hand gave up two earned runs on three hits and one walk while recording just two outs Wednesday, taking the blown save and the loss in the deciding game of the AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees.A clean ninth inning would have forced a Game 3, but Hand got into trouble right away, giving up a walk to Giancarlo Stanton followed by singles to Gio Urshela and Gleyber Torres. He then struck out Brett Gardner before allowing a sacrifice fly to Gary Sanchez that tied the game. DJ LeMahieu then singled home the winning run. Cleveland has a $10 million team option for 2021 or it can buy Hand out for $1 million.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Indians’ Brad Hand: Converts 16th save
Brad Hand was perfect over 1.1 innings, striking out one and earning the save Sunday versus the Pirates.Hand finished 2020 as the MLB saves leader with 16 in 23 appearances. He also recorded a hold, a 2-1 record, 2.05 ERA and 0.77 WHIP across 22 innings. The 30-year-old closer will look to continue his strong campaign for Cleveland during their postseason run.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Indians’ Brad Hand: Picks up 15th save
Brad Hand struck out two in a perfect ninth inning against the White Sox on Thursday en route to his 15th save of the season.Yasmani Grandal, Jose Abreu and James McCann went down in order against Hand, the first two on strikeouts. His 15 saves lead baseball, and Hand now has a 2.18 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 28 strikeouts to go along with a pair of wins. It looked early on like James Karinchak was going to usurp Hand in the ninth inning, but Hand held steady and has ended up as the No. 2 closer in fantasy baseball behind only Liam Hendriks.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Indians’ Brad Hand: Logs win on walkoff
Brad Hand (2-1) threw a scoreless ninth inning to become the pitcher of record in the Cleveland Indians’ 3-2 win over the White Sox on Wednesday.A Jordan Luplow game-winning home run gave Hand his second win of the season. In fact, Hand has racked up both wins and four saves through his previous eight appearances, allowing only one run over that stretch. He lowered his season ERA to 2.29 with Wednesday’s performance.
