The Washington Nationals are on a quest to improve their much-maligned bullpen and have signed standout lefty reliever Brad Hand to a one-year, $10.5 million contract.
Hand, formerly of the Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Cleveland Indians, became a free agent earlier this offseason after Cleveland decided to decline its club option for his services next season despite his outstanding 2020.
The Minnesota native fired 22 innings for Cleveland, posting an outstanding 2.05 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only four walks. This past season was the fourth in the past five in which Hand has posted an ERA under 3, with his only “slip-up” occurring in 2019 when it was still a very respectable 3.30.
Hand is expected to take over as the Nationals’ primary closer option, supplanting Sean Doolittle who has struggled in the role over the past two seasons.
The Nationals knew that they needed to acquire a top-flight lefty reliever to counteract bats like Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, and Michael Conforto, just three of the outstanding left-handed hitters in the NL East.
Hand will report to West Palm Beach, Florida over the next couple of weeks with his new teammates to begin preparations for the upcoming season.
