MLB Free Agency: Nationals and Brad Hand agree to one-year $ 10.5 million contract, reports show

The Washington Nationals have agreed to sign left-hander Brad Hand, according to multiple reports. The deal is for one year and $ 10.5 million, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

What’s interesting here is that towards the start of this offseason, Cleveland placed Hand on outright waivers, hoping another club would take him for a year and $ 10 million from their hands. Neither team did, and Cleveland had to pay for the $ 1 million buyout by declining the option, so Hand actually comes out $ 1.5 million ahead of time if his option had simply been chosen.

Hand, 30, led the majors with 16 saves last season while throwing a 2.05 ERA and 0.77 WHIP with 29 strikeouts against just four goals. His fastball will no longer blow up opposing hitters, but his cursor is exceptional and he has excellent control. Even with the speed drop in 2020, his percentage of allowed hard hits has decreased. He held the opposing hitters on a .169 / .226 / .260 line.

The move to the Nationals doesn’t necessarily preclude a DC reunion with left-handed reliever Sean Doolittle, but it does give the Nats a natural replacement in the late-inning southpaw role if said reunion doesn’t happen.

As far as what the Nationals have for the final innings right now, Daniel Hudson was the closest last season and is coming back, but he’s also posted an ERA of over 6. Hand can certainly handle the closing duties, as we have seen in recent years. Right-hangers Tanner Rainey and Will Harris are also set to take on high-leverage roles as the season enters.

Hand had been heavily linked with the rumors with the Mets in recent weeks, but nothing came of it. Instead, he’ll end up with a different team from NL East.