Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets are interested in free agent reliever Brad Hand, according to a report from Jon Heyman.
Hand was released by Cleveland’s baseball team in October after declining his 2020 option for $10 million. The lefty was released at an awkward time for the Mets to make a claim, as he became available at that salary point when the Wilpons and Brodie Van Wagenen were on the way out and Steve Cohen and Sandy Alderson were on the way in.
As Heyman points out, Alderson said they might’ve made a move on Hand’s waiver claim had the timing been right.
This is a bit of positive news following reports today that the Mets were no longer in on Tomoyuki Sugano and a slew of other teams in are interested in top free agent reliever Liam Hendriks.
Hand has been one of the best relievers in baseball since fully transitioning to the bullpen with the Padres in 2016. Since then, he’s pitched to a 2.92 FIP, 157 ERA+, and 1.066 WHIP. He also had two All Star selections in that time.
The Mets are in desperate need for a left-handed option in the bullpen, as well, with Justin Wilson no longer on the roster and Daniel Zamora the only other lefty reliever on the 40-man roster.
Read MMO’s full profile on Brad Hand here.
