MLB trade rumors: Yankees, Astros bidding war for dominant lefty?

by Felix Pantaleón

The Yankees could accomplish two things at the upcoming MLB trade deadline on July 31, 2018 (7/31/18): Improve and keep the defending World Series champion Houston Astros from improving.

If the Yankees can’t find a top-of-the-rotation arm between now and July 31, adding a lockdown relief pitcher may be the best way to improve an already excellent team.

While that may seem crazy, there’s logic behind it. That’s especially true when considering how teams in recent years have deployed bullpens in October.

When looking at the upcoming relief market, one arm stands out above all the others right now: San Diego Padres lefty Brad Hand.

There’s already been connection between the Yankees and a possible pursuit of the strikeout artist. But now another wrinkle could be in the mix: Keeping Hand away from the rival Astros, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

A bidding war between superpowers likely to have to go through each other in the playoffs, plus another few teams, is great for the Padres. Hand has much in common with what the Yankees had in Andrew Miller at the 2016 deadline: a dominant lefty signed on a reasonable contract for 2 1/2 more seasons (3 1/2 in Hand’s case if you include his 2021 option).

Miller was better, but Hand is probably better than you think. All the following stats are since Hand became a full-time reliever in 2016: He has a 2.45 ERA, a .578 OPS against and has struck out 32.8 percent of the batters he has faced. He is durable, having appeared in the third-most games during that time. He suffocates lefties (.461 OPS). And he is no creation of the pitching haven of Petco Park. His road OPS is .512, eighth best among the 145 relievers with at least 50 appearances.

Yanks’ dream lineup with Bryce Harper

If the Yankees land Hand, they will own him a little bit over $14M across 2019-2020, and hold a $10M team option on his contract for 2021.

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